CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK
find us @cambsedition
CAMBRIDGE EDITION MAGAZINE • Bright Publishing
Ltd, Bright House, 82 High Street, Sawston, Cambridgeshire
CB22 3HJ, 01223 499450, cambsedition.co.uk • All rights
reserved. Material contained in this publication may not be
reproduced, in whole or in part, without prior permission of
the publishers. • Views expressed in this magazine are not
necessarily those of Cambridge Edition or Bright Publishing
Ltd, which do not accept any liability for loss or damage.
• Every effort has been made to ensure all information
is correct. • Cambridge Edition is a free publication that
is distributed in Cambridge and the surrounding area.

This month’s cover illustration was created by Flo
Thomas. See more of Flo’s illustrations on Etsy at
HeydayDesignsUK or at heydaydesigns.co.uk

he lights have been switched on, the
ice rink is open and the final Christmas
countdown has begun. As with every
December here in Cambridge, there’s an
avalanche of festive fun to throw yourself
into: beginning on the 1st of the month
with the lovely Mill Road Winter Fair.
If you need a little nudge to get in the
seasonal spirit, you can’t beat this cocklewarming community party, which sees
Mill Road transformed by a sea of people
and stalls, music and delicious food at
every turn.
A fixture of the winter calendar since
2005, when just 40 venues participated, the fair has grown into one of
the city’s best-loved annual events and now sprawls across the whole of
Mill Road and its adjoining streets. Wrap up warm, grab a steaming cup of
mulled wine and enjoy the fun – a good tip is to arrive early to avoid the
inevitable crush. Once you’ve got your shopping done and had something
tasty to eat, turn your feet to the Empress or the Cambridge Blue, both
of which throw themselves into the spirit of things with decorations,
special guests (Santa and real reindeer respectively) and a bucket-load
of Christmassy good cheer. Read our run down of what’s happening at the
fair on page 28.
Cambridge’s theatres are going into overdrive this month, offering up
all sorts of Christmassy shows, from beautiful ballets, to a quirky, musical
take on Snow White, and of course, the Arts Theatre’s exuberant annual
panto, which runs right the way through until the new year – find out more
on page 21.
Christmas list still need blitzing? I recommend thumbing your way to our
gift guide, where we’ve got a sack-load of perfect pressie ideas, all from local
independent retailers. If you’ve got a really tricky friend or family member
to buy for (there’s always one), help is at hand in the form of the new Love
Cambridge gift card, which is redeemable at a vast range of restaurants,
shops and attractions across the city and can be topped up with as little as
£10. Not only does it give your giftee a huge choice, you’ll be benefitting
Cambridge’s economy by keeping the spend local. Win-win!
If you’d prefer to opt out of the Christmas madness and curl up with a
mug of tea and a really good read –
check out the Edition Book Club (page
36), where we chat to author Elly
Griffiths about her latest offering The
Stranger Diaries: a gripping gothic pageturner that’s ideal for hibernating with.
However you spend it, have a
great Christmas – I’ll see you on
the other side!

Nicola Foley
EDITOR IN CHIEF

CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE12_003 (WELCOME)sg.indd 3

3

D E C E M B E R 2 018

23/11/2018 10:28

CE ADS_DECEMBER.indd 4

22/11/2018 17:56

CONTENTS
6 l STARTERS

Top things to do and see in the city, plus our
favourite social media pics of the month

MILL ROAD WINTER FAIR
The first Saturday in December means one thing only in
Cambridge: it’s the day when Mill Road transforms into a
sea of people (rather than cars) as independent traders,
restaurants and more spill on to the street to bring a
glittering array of food, drink and crafts to the thousands
who visit throughout the day.
Time travellers and machines is the theme for
the parade, which we’re pleased to see is back after
a couple of years off (best get your thinking cap on
for costumes!). There will be all styles of music from
individual buskers, bands and Cambridge Morris Men,
plus demonstrations and a fire engine pull (emergencies
permitting). It runs until 4pm and part of the fun and
charm of the day is that, while you’re looking around,
you’re very likely to spot people you know for a catch-up.
To find out more, read our feature on page 28.

D E C E M B E R 2 018

CE12_006-007 (STARTERS) BF.indd 6

6

CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

20/11/2018 17:24

XXXXXXXX

AN ENCHANTED
CHRISTMAS
Enchanted Cinema is transforming The Guildhall
in Cambridge into a magical cinematic wonderland
this month when it screens three days of classic
films. Some are very festive indeed, others just
happen to be set during the holiday season – and a
few are just great films!
On 20 December, there’s the Disney mega-hit
Frozen, as well as Home Alone and action hit
Die Hard, while The Muppet Christmas Carol,
which features Michael Caine as Ebenezer
Scrooge, Elf and perfect romcom, Love Actually,
are showing the next day.
Slow-burning singalong hit of the year, The
Greatest Showman, is on 22 December, which also
features huge crowd-pleaser Mamma Mia! Here
We Go Again and dress-up inspiring cult classic,
The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
There will be live music before the films,
plus a craft market featuring local artists and
craftspeople every day from 12pm (which is open
to all), with the Cambridge Live team providing
drinks. For mouth-watering food, there’s options
from Signorelli’s Deli and Afternoon Tease, who
will be serving treats including cheese scones.
Tickets are on sale at enchantedcinema.co.uk

W IN T ER WON DER
If you’re looking for a place to walk – perhaps after a hearty lunch – keep in mind
the Cambridge University Botanic Garden, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary
next year. You might think of it as a summer day out, but take a trip during the
winter months and you will be rewarded with spectacularly gorgeous sights.
Nowadays, floral colour in the winter seems commonplace, but CUBG was a
pioneer of this approach: back in 1979, a garden designed to be beautiful in the
depths of winter was a novel idea. Pete Kerley, the gardener in charge of it, has
been working at the Botanic Garden for all 40 years.
botanic.cam.ac.uk

CH R ISTM A S
BEGI NS AT BU RWA SH
Get into the festive spirit with carol singing, mulled
wine and plenty of shopping at Burwash Manor’s
Christmas Begins event on 2 December. Warming
food will be in huge supply thanks to street food
faves, The Vargas Brothers, The Wandering Yak
and Churros Bar, with gin, mulled wine and cider
from the on-site Cozzi & Boffa Bar. Going with
children? Book them in to see Father Christmas:
tickets cost £8.50, including a £5 voucher to spend
in the Rocking Horse Toy Shop. Children get to
make and take home reindeer food, too! Contact
the Rocking Horse to book.
burwashmanor.com

CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE12_006-007 (STARTERS) BF.indd 7

GET YOU R SK AT ES ON!

The North Pole ice rink is back on Parker’s Piece for skating for all ages and
abilities… and this year all-weather, too! A new clear polygon roof gives skaters the
chance to not only go out under the sun and stars, but the rain. After you glide,
you can ride, with a funfair and amusements to keep the whole family entertained,
plus a cosy Alpine-themed cabin bar on-site, too. It’s open until 6 January, every
day except Christmas Day, from 12pm to 9pm and from 11am on weekends.
thenorthpolecambridge.co.uk

7

D E C E M B E R 2 018

20/11/2018 17:24

CE ADS_DECEMBER.indd 8

22/11/2018 17:56

Culture Club
ART

EXHIBITIONS

•

THEATRE

•

BOOK

CLUB

•

CHRISTMAS

SHOWS

Get
A
piece
in the
bymood
Pete
Hawkins,
for
Christmas
exhibited
with
aatFestival
Byard Art
of Carols
this
at
Elymont
Cathedral

CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE12_009 (CULTURE CLUB)lm.indd 9

9

D E C E M B E R 2 018

22/11/2018 13:03

CE ADS_DECEMBER.indd 10

22/11/2018 17:56

A RTS & C U LT U R E

CHR IS TM A S CR ACK ER CON T IN U ES
After launching in November, Byard
Art’s popular Christmas Cracker show
continues into its second month,
offering an ever-changing collection of
art to enjoy in a range of media.
Pieces on display include paintings,
sculpture, ceramics, mixed media
artwork, limited-edition prints,
photography and handmade jewellery
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE12_011-017 (ARTS) BF.indd 11

by more than 50 artists and designermakers. It’s ideal if you are on the
lookout for original art, jewellery or
crafts to gift loved ones this Christmas.
Among the artists displaying
their work is Laura Jordan, the
extraordinarily talented artist behind
the above Cambridge illustration.
It’s typical of her intricate, beautiful

11

cityscapes, created as she travels around
the world observing how people live in
different places before putting pen to
paper to tell their stories. She’s currently
exhibiting across four continents and
has built an impressive international
reputation. See her work at Christmas
Cracker, which runs until 24 December.
byardart.co.uk
D E C E M B E R 2 018

21/11/2018 11:00

S A F F RON
HALL
There’s a busy month ahead
at Saffron Hall, beginning with
New Sussex Opera, who will be
stopping by with Charles Villiers
Stanford’s little-performed
The Travelling Companion on 2
December. Then, jazz fans can
catch Kansas Smitty’s House
Band on 8 December, while the
legendary London Community
Gospel Choir will bring an uplifting
Christmas celebration on the
9th, filled with tidings of deep
comfort and pure joy. On the 16th
at 3pm, composers John Rutter
and Bob Chilcott take turns to
conduct their own carols with the
BBC Singers and BBC Concert
Orchestra, then, Britten Sinfonia
perform Handel’s Messiah on
22 December: its brilliant arias
making it a popular one on many a
Christmas list.
On 23 December, celebrate
the delights of Christmas past
at A Victorian Christmas, which
features an afternoon of readings
and music from the likes of Lewis
Carroll, Edward Lear, and Gilbert
and Sullivan.
Saffronhall.com

AC A DEM Y
OF A NCIEN T
MUSIC:
M ESSI A H
Christmas isn’t Christmas
without a performance
of Handel’s epic oratorio,
Messiah. The Academy of
Ancient Music joins forces
with one of the hottest
young choirs, VOCES8,
for a spine-tingling start
to the festive season on 5
December at Trinity College
Chapel. Messiah depicts
the birth, life and death of
Christ, and features some
of Handel’s best-known
pieces, including For unto
us a child is born, I know that
my redeemer liveth and the
Hallelujah chorus.
cambridgelivetrust.co.uk
D E C E M B E R 2 018

CE12_011-017 (ARTS) BF.indd 12

12

CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

21/11/2018 11:01

A RTS & C U LT U R E

DECEMBER AT AUDLEY END HOUSE & GARDENS
There’s a fun-packed month in store at Audley
End House, with a chance to meet Father
Christmas himself every weekend until the
big day, from 1 December. It’s free for English
Heritage members. Also, there’s a carol concert
on 4 December at 6.30pm and 8.30pm with

carols sung by Christ’s College Choir in the Great
Hall, with the option to book a two- or threecourse Christmas dinner if you go to the earlier
performance (sittings from 4.45pm).
Enchanted Audley End transforms the
grounds into an illuminated new world in which

you can step through tunnels and paths of fairy
lights, cross an enchanted bridge and more on
6-9, 13-16, 20-23 and 27-30 December from
4.30 to 9pm. Finally, there’s wreath-making on 13
and 14 December. It’s £60 for non-members.
English-heritage.org.uk

15

MUPPETS
FOR ADULTS

DEC

A Christmas show that’s strictly for over-18s,
Sing-a-Long-a Muppet Christmas Carol, features
one of the more surprising festive hit films of the
last 30 years, with Sh!t Theatre providing added
extras. Includes free goody bags and whiskey.
Catch the laughs at Cambridge Junction on 15
December, tickets cost £12.50.
junction.co.uk

CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE12_011-017 (ARTS) BF.indd 13

13

D E C E M B E R 2 018

21/11/2018 11:01

XXXXXXXX

5

DEC

THE OVERTONES

The Overtones return to Cambridge as a foursome for the first time following the
untimely passing of bandmate Timmy Matley. Their new album of covers and originals is
a tribute to him, with songs of reflection but also ones to put a smile on your face. Catch
them at the Corn Exchange on 5 December. Tickets from £25.50.
cambridgelivetrust.co.uk

R ET RO G A M E N IGH T GE T S F ES T I V E
The Centre for Computing History hosts its final Retro Video Game Night of the year
with a festive flavour on 7 December. Christmas-themed games will be out to play and
the tournament is Winter Heat on the Sega Saturn. So head to the centre for consoles
and games galore, plus a bar courtesy of Lord Conrad’s Brewery and a food stall/truck to
be announced. Booking is required (£10) and it’s an over-18s event.
computinghistory.org.uk
D E C E M B E R 2 018

CE12_011-017 (ARTS) BF.indd 14

14

CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

23/11/2018 11:07

A RTS & C U LT U R E

SING-SONG
MERRILY ON HIGH
Feeling festive? In need of a carol service or concert
to get your vocal cords into? There’s plenty going on
over the course of the month to tempt.
Broadcast live from King’s College Chapel on
BBC Radio 4 on Christmas Eve at 3pm, A Festival of
Nine Lessons and Carols is the main event for huge
numbers of people, with queues forming before
dawn. The service started in 1918 and has been
broadcast since 1928. Nowadays, millions tune in
around the world as it is also broadcast live on the
BBC World Service (with a repeat on BBC Radio 3 on
Christmas Day, too) and since 1919 it always starts
with Once in Royal David’s City.
If you want to go, get there very early on Christmas
Eve with some form of photo ID, as staff will begin
distributing tickets from 7am. Each ticket – there are
approximately 500 – will be for a specific seat and
valid only for the person who collects it; only one
ticket will be given per person. If you’re lucky to get
one, you can go back for admission from 1.30pm for
the 90-minute service from 3pm.
Despite its popularity, the event is often confused
with Carols From King’s. This is televised on BBC Two
on Christmas Eve, but recorded earlier in the month.
Ely Cathedral has a huge choice throughout
December in the run up to the big day, culminating
in Hark! The Herald, the annual carol concert on
the 22nd. Expect traditional carols and seasonal
music with a 30ft Christmas tree in the background.
The soaring voices of the cathedral’s choir will be
accompanied by Ely Sinfonia. Tickets from £10.
On 7 December, the cathedral also hosts its Festival
of Carols, featuring special guest Ruthie Henshall –
who has had a long career in musical theatre, starring
in Cats and Miss Saigon – plus seasonal readings and
poems. Tickets from £12. Littleport Brass band takes
centre stage at Ely Cathedral at 2pm on 15 December,
for a Community Christmas Carol Sing-a-long, with
free entry. Events for younger children and families
include the Big Christmas Tree Lights Switch-on
Service on 9 December and Christmas Story and
Song Time on the 13th.
A Rotary Club charity carol concert in aid of Arthur
Rank Hospice Charity and Cambridge Churches
Homeless Project takes place at Great St Mary’s
Church on 10 December, featuring five local school
choirs. Tickets are £10.
On 16 December at 6.30pm there will be carols
by candlelight at The Leper Chapel on Newmarket
Road, with Cottenham Brass Band performaing at the
atmospheric 12th-century building.
If singing’s not quite your thing, sit back and watch
New Cambridge Singers’ Christmas Concert. It
features Benjamin Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols and
one-act opera Amahl and the Night Visitors, by Gian
Carlo Menotti, in which the three kings bring gifts to
children. It takes place at St Vigor’s Church, Fulbourn,
on 8 December, and St John the Evangelist Church,
Hills Road, on 15 December.
Cambridge Early Music presents Baroque
Christmas Music from Germany and France at Great
St Mary’s Church on 6 December. Featuring the
Choir of Gonville & Caius College and Caius Consort,
Baroque pieces for Christmas include Charpentier’s
Messe de Minuit.

CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE12_011-017 (ARTS) BF.indd 15

15

D E C E M B E R 2 018

21/11/2018 11:01

CE ADS_DECEMBER.indd 16

22/11/2018 17:56

A RTS & C U LT U R E

15
DEC

PR I M E BR A SS

Prime Brass performs three family
concerts of carols and festive music this
month. Children of all ages can dress
up in festive fashion if they wish for the
shows that will see the Cambridge brass
ensemble, formed in 1989, joined by
talented young players, Junior Prime
Brass and school choirs. The ensemble
plays Stapleford Granary on 15 December
at 3pm, and West Road Concert Hall on
16 December at 3.30pm and 5.30pm.
primebrass.co.uk

LOV E AC T UA L LY IN CONCER T
A hit film can’t really qualify as a cult classic, but Love Actually has enjoyed the
sort of enduring appeal that’s normally only reserved for the quirky slow-burn
genre flicks that keep fans watching. Richard Curtis’ tale of ten intertwining
stories is 15 years old and was shown in 2017 with a live orchestra performing
the soundtrack on a sold-out tour. It’s back for a second year, with Craig
Armstrong’s evocative score being performed by Senbla Concert Orchestra at
Cambridge Corn Exchange on 12 December. Tickets from £42.50.
cambridgelivetrust.co.uk

22

MUCH ADO ABOUT CRIMBO!

DEC

Get yourself in the Christmas spirit with Much Ado About Crimbo! on the 22nd: a seasonal, silly and slightly
Shakespearean game of musical bingo at the Junction. Starring Boogaloo Stu as crimplene-clad comedy character
Derek Daniels, with special guest Lorraine Bowen of Britain’s Got Talent fame, the game goes as follows: Derek sings
a medley of festive classics at the piano while you, the audience, check your bingo card for quotes. Derek will casually
drop Shakespeare into his comical reminiscence of his ﬁrst Christmas with his long-suffering wife, Beverley. It’s a
race to win it big and claim your gift from under the tree! Tickets are £12.50 and you’re encouraged to join the party
in your ﬁnest 70s attire. Flares at the ready!
junction.co.uk

he walks in beauty like the
night’. One of the most
exquisite lines of poetry ever
– written by radical poet Lord
Byron (famous for keeping a pet bear
while at Cambridge – hmmm) which
could easily describe sparkling, dressedup Cambridge at this time of year. There’s
nothing more festive, or sumptuous,
than dark nights and glittering trees (the
Empress pub is the queen of bling – go for
the decorations alone). Mill Road Winter
Fair is no exception, starting the month
with a bang on Saturday 1 December,
boasting all manner of community treats
and treasures. It’s a fantastic day to sip a
mulled wine, pick up gifts – and support
some of Cambridge’s best-loved artists
and makers (such as Loukas Morley,
offering his bespoke design wizardry
working with reclaimed wood) by buying
from them. In fact, why not start a new
family tradition of choosing handmade
decorations, gifts or cards from artisans at
the fair each year?
Another must-visit this month is
Gallery 9, just round the corner from
Mill Road on Norfolk Street, and one
of Cambridge’s best galleries – take the
chance to find fabulous gifts while you’re
visiting the fair, and all year round.
A stone’s throw from Mill Road, across
Parker’s Piece on Regent Street, is the
Heong Gallery at Downing College.
Currently running is Halfboy, the gallery’s
latest show, by one of the UK’s most
acclaimed living painters, Stuart Pearson
Wright. “An exhibition can often be either
intensely moving or deeply thoughtprovoking. Halfboy is both,” comments
Master of Downing College, Alan

Bookbinder, on the show, which explores
the artist’s paternal roots – or lack of –
with breathtaking results.
Fans of the BP Portrait Awardwinning artist include HRH Prince of
Wales, JK Rowling, Kiera Knightley
and Daniel Radcliffe, who all own
his works. You can also find him in
public collections including the British
Museum, Government Art Collection, the
Ashmolean and Fitzwilliam museums,
and many others.
“The male has got to be heroic – if
he’s wearing a codpiece, he’s got to get
his sword out, win the maiden, and
save the day... So, I wanted to take all of
those references and expectations and
piss them up the wall: explode the myth
of the hero,” comments Stuart Pearson
Wright on MAZE, a film piece made
in collaboration with Kiera Knightley,
screened as part of the programme
to mark the opening of Halfboy. His
examination of the masculine haunts
Halfboy, too, along with the fresh-faced
innocence of the artist as a young boy.
The show runs until 6 February.
Also not to be missed is Richard
Pousette-Dart: Beginnings at Kettle’s Yard,
reflecting on the artist’s time as a young
abstract expressionist in New York,
which runs until 6 January. This is the
first UK solo show of US artist Richard
Pousette-Dart, whose contemporaries
included Pollock and Rothko – those
abstract expressionists who put New
York city at the centre of the art world in
the 1940s. The youngest member of The
Irascibles – a group of artists struggling
to find a new sense of self, plus gain
recognition for their rebellious new art

“I wanted to explode the
myth of the hero”
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE12_019 (RUTHIE) V2 copy_FE.indd 19

19

movement in the aftermath of the Second
World War – Pousette-Dart kept a lively
correspondence with Jim Ede, founder of
Kettle’s Yard.
It’s relationships like theirs that
highlight Kettle’s Yard’s own legacy – a
long-standing commitment to nurturing a
careful selection of young, original voices
within the artworld. Featuring paintings,
drawings, photography and sculpture
that all mark Pousette-Dart’s significant
contribution to American art, this show
touches on that often-hidden fluidity
between disciplines that happens as an
artist finds their own voice. Standout use
of text, alongside stunning works created
at the start of Pousette-Dart’s incipient
career, makes this a show that is high on
concept, but not at the cost of craft –
many of his works on show seem as fresh
now as they must have felt when they
were first made. And don’t we all love the
idea of a young artist in New York?
“Artists are the real heroes of
humanity,” Pousette-Dart once said. “All
great art is spiritual.” Maybe he was right.
“I’m interested in helping people get on
their own thread of their own creative
being... I don’t think one is better than
another – they are all unique.”
Finally, if you haven’t already
experienced a Cambridge Junction
Christmas show, known for arty
twists and fresh ideas, then put Snow
White in your diary. Produced by New
International Encounter, this lively and
engaging show opens on 5 December.
Yarn bombers are also called to transform
the foyer of the Junction for this, with
the help of Tigerchilli, Cambridge’s yarn
bomber extraordinaire.
December’s silly
season would
not be complete
without a feel-good
festive bash like
this! Whatever
you do, make
sure you have a
fabulous, happy
and creative
December. l
D E C E M B E R 2 018

20/11/2018 17:13

CE ADS_DECEMBER.indd 20

22/11/2018 17:56

C H R I STMAS S H O WS

Festive
theatre treats
THEREâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SO MUCH TO SEE THIS FESTIVE SEASON IN CAMBRIDGE:
SIOBHAN GODWOOD ROUNDS UP THE SHOWS THAT WILL GET
YOU FEELING ALL CHRISTMASSY

CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE12_023-026 (CHRISTMAS SHOWS)sg.indd 21

21

D E C E M B E R 2 018

20/11/2018 17:11

XXXXXXXX
Images Ballet Centralâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
production of The
Nutcracker is perfect for
younger audiences

D E C E M B E R 2 018

CE12_023-026 (CHRISTMAS SHOWS)sg.indd 22

22

CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

20/11/2018 17:11

C H R I STMAS S H O WS

Above The St Petersburg Classic Ballet
company makes its annual festive
appearance at the Corn Exchange

29 NOVEMBER – 6 JANUARY

CAMBRIDGE ARTS THEATRE

ALADDIN
Forget advent calendars – in Cambridge, the
Christmas countdown officially starts once the
Arts Theatre panto comes to town, and this
year there’s a real treat in store with ‘the most
thrilling pantomime of them all’, Aladdin. This
genie-us production tells the story of a young
man who is short of cash but big on personality,
finding a way to help his family escape the
mean streets of Old Peking, and discovering
true love along the way – all with a little bit
of help from a magic lamp. This Christmas
classic features some of the most iconic panto
characters, including Wishee Washee, played
by ventriloquist Max Fulham and, of course, the
ultimate evil villain, Abanazar, played by Wayne
Sleep in full baddie mode. Matt Crosby will
be making his 13th – yes, 13th! – appearance
as the Arts Theatre’s panto dame, this time
playing Widow Twanky.
Tickets from £16 to £45.
cambridgeartstheatre.com

past, with two legends of stage and screen
– Holby City’s Robert Powell and New Tricks’
Susan Jameson – sharing the words and music
of figures including Edward Lear, Lewis Carroll,
Alfred Lord Tennyson and Queen Victoria
herself. It’s a veritable stocking full of festive
good cheer.
Tickets from £5 to £20.
saffronhall.com

18 – 22 DECEMBER

GREAT HALL AT THE LEYS

P E T E R PA N : A
M U S I C A L A DV E N T U R E
The much-loved story of the boy who never
grew up, and his adventures with Peter, Wendy,
John and Michael when they fly away to
Neverland. This production from Cambridge
Theatre Company follows 2017’s James and
the Giant Peach and 2016’s Goodnight Mister
Tom, and features a gorgeous musical score
from George Stiles and Anthony Drewe.
Tickets cost from £18 to £22.50
camtheatrecompany.co.uk

23 DECEMBER

SAFFRON HALL

A V I C TO R I A N
C H R I S TM A S
The Christmas that we celebrate is heavily
influenced by the Victorians, from the cards
that we send to the trees we decorate and the
food we eat. Saffron Walden’s award-winning
concert venue, Saffron Hall, is the venue for
this show celebrating the delights of Christmas

rounds off one year and welcomes the
next with performances of two beautiful
classical ballets set to the timeless music of
Tchaikovsky, and featuring stunning costumes
and dazzling dancers. First up, from 29 to 31
December, is The Nutcracker, a festive flight
of fancy following our heroine Clara as she is
transported from an old Russian toyshop to a
magical forest filled with toys who come to life,
and meets her Nutcracker Prince. Next, on 1
January, is the achingly romantic Swan Lake,
the tragic tale of Prince Siegfried and his true
love Odette, who are tricked by evil sorcerer
Von Rothbart and his daughter Odile, but
would rather die than live apart. What better
way to greet the new year?
Tickets cost from £18 to £38
cambridgelivetrust.co.uk

D E C E M B E R 2 018

20/11/2018 17:11

C H R I STMAS S H O WS
5 – 31 DECEMBER

CAMBRIDGE JUNCTION

S N OW W H I T E
New International Encounter, the team behind
the Junction’s Beauty and the Beast in 2016
and Around the World in Eighty Days in 2014,
brings another unique theatrical Christmas
experience to Cambridge this year, with their
interpretation of Snow White. “We’ve done
three Christmas shows at the Junction, so we’re
delighted to be back this year,” said Alex Byrne,
Snow White’s director. The production is of
course based on the traditional fairy tale that
we all know and love; but with a modern twist.
The story offers a great opportunity to address
modern dilemmas, with its themes of family
conflict and the obsession with youth and
beauty, embodied by the evil stepmother with
her talking mirror and famous catchphrase,
“who is the fairest of them all?”
“The show looks at what our idea of beauty is,
and what we see when we look at ourselves in
the mirror,” explains Alex. “That’s a big question
in our contemporary world, and while we don’t
want to get too serious in a fun family show,
that’s an underlying issue in our production.”
This version of Snow White will have plenty
of drama, too, as the real appeal of the story,
Alex believes, lies in its archetypal fairy-tale
baddie, the evil stepmother. “That character
is what really attracted me to this story,”
says Alex. “She’s brilliantly scary in the grand
tradition of wicked witches, and when we
started doing our first workshops, that was one
of the things that we had lots of fun with. It’s
such a fantastic, timeless storyline – the ageing
beauty who realises that her charms are fading,
choked up with murderous envy of her young,
gorgeous stepdaughter.”
The show is packed with comedy and rough
and tumble action. While Snow White definitely
isn’t a panto – there’s no cross-dressing, no
pantomime dame, and no ‘he’s behind you!’ it is a really fun, fast-paced adventure for the
whole family. “I really like it when the action
spills off the stage and into the audience,” says
Alex, “and when kids in the audience get so

D E C E M B E R 2 018

CE12_023-026 (CHRISTMAS SHOWS)sg.indd 24

Above Cambridge Junction’s production of Snow White is a fun-packed musical extravaganza, with a
modern twist to the tale and a live band on stage

caught up that they shout things out and get
involved. We’ve had lots of really successful
Christmas shows in Cambridge and they’ve all
had that element of audience interaction, and
that’s what we’re doing with Snow White. All
our productions are musical, so there will be a
live band on stage and the show will be packed
with fantastic original songs. The J2 is a perfect
venue for that, with its intimate feel; we’ll be
taking some seats out and putting some on the
stage, with the action happening right in the
middle, so wherever you are, you’re only five or
six metres from the actors. The audience will
be right there with us as the story unfolds.”
And as for the seven dwarves who take
Snow White in and protect her – they’ll be
given a modern makeover, offering a contrast
to the image-conscious, opulent world in which
Snow White has grown up. “They’ll be more
like ‘the seven vegans’,” says Alex, “getting back
to the land and living off-grid. It’s a reimagining
of what these guys might be doing living out
in the forest, so we’ll be seeing them as eco
warriors, cutting back on plastic and reducing
their carbon footprint.” Much more 2018!
Tickets from £10 to £15.50, with discounts
for groups.
junction.co.uk

24

13 – 15 DECEMBER

ADC THEATRE

T H E N U TC R AC K E R
For a short run of eight performances, Ballet
Central returns to the ADC theatre this
Christmas for a special version of the classic
ballet The Nutcracker, performed to the iconic
Tchaikovsky score. It’s Christmas Eve, and
Clara is exploring Drosselmeyer’s toyshop
when the dolls come alive and she is
transported to an enchanted forest and a
kingdom of sweets, where she meets the
Nutracker Prince and the Sugar Plum Fairy. This
shorter, 45-minute interpretation of the ballet
is perfect for young audiences and a beautiful,
Christmassy introduction to the world of ballet
and classical music.
Tickets cost £10.
adctheatre.com

21 NOVEMBER – 1 DECEMBER

ADC THEATRE

THE GINGERBREAD
MAN
Run, run, as fast as you can! We all know that
the Gingerbread Man has been running since
he first popped out of that oven. But this
Christmas at Cambridge’s ADC theatre, he’s
breaking with tradition and entering into an
epic, chocolatey battle against the forces of evil
in the form of venture capitalist Mrs Badbury
and the menacing Milky Bar Kid, when they turn
Quality Street from a utopia of flavour equality
into a soul-destroying factory. Gingie has to learn
the importance of friendship and tolerance
and join forces with an intrepid gang of baked
goods. But can he do it in time to stop the
baddies turning the moon into a giant creme
egg for profit?
Footlights’ annual panto is a byword for
quirky, anarchic, hilarious fun, and this year’s
show promises to be choc-a-bloc with gooey
goodness for the whole family. There are
evening shows every day except Sundays, and
matinee performances too. Tickets £10-£16
adctheatre.com

CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

20/11/2018 17:11

CE ADS_DECEMBER.indd 25

22/11/2018 17:56

A DV E RT I S E M E N T F E AT U R E

EXPLORE CAMBRIDGE'S CENTRE
FOR COMPUTING HISTORY
Discover a place where old computers and consoles live forever in this hands-on museum
that adults and children alike will enjoy

L

ooking for a unique day out
in Cambridge? Retro tech
heaven awaits at the Centre for
Computing History on Coldham’s
Road: a fascinating and fun hands-on
museum experience for all ages.
Chronicling the story of the
Information Age through exploring the
historical, social and cultural impact of
developments in personal computing,
the centre is home to a vast collection of
vintage computers and consoles. Totalling
some 32,000 items, this internationally
significant archive contains everything
from an Altair 8800 – the first home
computer – to mobile phones, games
consoles and calculators.
Visitors can play, learn and have fun
getting nostalgic as they go on a journey
through video gaming from the early
1970s and consoles like the Magnavox
Odyssey, through to the 1990s and the

D E C E M B E R 2 018

CE12_027 (CENTRE FOR COMPUTING ADV).indd 26

Super Nintendo and Sega Mega Drive
days, right up to the Sony PlayStation
4 with Virtual Reality. You can also
deep dive into the history of personal
computers, discovering everything from
the Cambridge-born Acorn to Apricot
(remember them?), Amstrad and, of
course, Apple.
You’ll also be able to find out more
about the centre’s new project: Swiss
Rolls, Tea and the Electronic Office:
A History of LEO, the First Business
Computer. Made possible by National
Lottery players, the project brings
together, preserves, archives and digitises
a range of LEO computer artefacts,
documents and personal memories
to share the fascinating, yet largely
unknown, story of LEO with a new
audience.
The Centre for Computing History is
much more than a museum – it’s hands-

26

on exhibitions, educational workshops
and a wide range of activities and special
events.
Coming up this month there’s a
Christmas Quiz Night – which is like your
typical pub quiz with rounds on music,
films, sports and general trivia – but
with a retro-computing twist, beer from
Lord Conrad’s brewery and great prizes.
Join the fun on the 1st! There’s also the
latest instalment of the regular Retro
Gaming Night (7 December), with loads
of consoles and games from the archive
for you to play on, or you can get into
the festive spirit and build your very own
digital Christmas tree at the Electronics
Lab event on 8 December.
Technology moves at breakneck speed,
but the centre is preserving it and making
the history of computing relevant and fun
for all ages – pay a visit to discover this
unique gem on your doorstep. l

CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

22/11/2018 11:54

CE ADS_DECEMBER.indd 27

22/11/2018 17:56

A fair to
remember

MEDIA
PARTNE
R

E

MILL ROAD WINTER FAIR RETURNS ON THE FIRST OF THE MONTH FOR ITS ANNUAL
WINTERY BONANZA. HERE’S SOME HIGHLIGHTS NOT TO MISS!

at, drink, shop, dance and be merry at
the marvellous Mill Road Winter Fair,
which returns for its annual outing on
1 December. One of the most treasured
events in the local calendar, the fair
attracts around 10,000 guests each year,
offering a joyful celebration of not just the
Mill Road neighbourhood but the whole
Cambridge community. As ever, there’s
more food and fun than you can shake
your woolly glove at, plus a plethora of
stalls selling everything from Christmas
decorations to handmade books and
artworks, not to mention plenty of
family activities.
Mill Road will be closed (for drivers
and cyclists) from East Road to Coleridge
Road from 9am until 5.30pm, so visitors
can roam around freely and enjoy the
party. Here’s a taster of what’s in store!

DON ’ T MISS

After a two year hiatus, the community
parade is back and will snake its way from
Romsey Terrace up to East Road from
12.30pm. This year, there’s a time traveller
theme, so expect all sorts of fantastical
machines, gadgets and fabulously fancy

D E C E M B E R 2 018

CE12_028-031 (MILL ROAD WINTER FAIR) BF.indd 28

dressed characters as the local schools
and youth groups shimmy and bop their
way through the fair.
This year’s Mill Road Winter Fair will
also see the unveiling of a new piece of
public art, which will sit on the corner of
Cavendish Road. The Romsey R, a striking
sculpture conceived by local artist Harry
Gray and typography specialist Will Hill,
nods to the area’s history, community and
railway heritage. It will be revealed to the
public at 12pm on the day.
It wouldn’t be a Mill Road Winter
Fair day without a trip to The Empress,
Cambridge’s most exuberantly decorated
pub. Step inside and ogle the kitschness,
sip on mulled wine and warm up with
a hog roast in the garden. There’ll be a
selection of Christmas beers, too, plus
Father Christmas will be there from 3pm
to 5pm with presents for all the kids.
The other pub you need on your radar
on fair day is The Cambridge Blue on
Gwydir Street. This much-loved watering
hole pulls out all the stops with seasonal
hot drinks and real reindeer out the back.
Fancy getting lost? Pay a visit to
Petersfield Green, where Kay Barrett and
her team are constructing a temporary
labyrinth from 10.30am. It will be ready
for exploring by visitors of all ages from
midday, and come 3pm the labyrinth
will be illuminated with tea lights for a
magical mood as darkness falls.

MUSIC & MER R IMEN T
From funk to punk and every genre in
between, you’ll be able to soak up all

sorts of sounds from performers up and
down the Mill Road mile. Highlights
are sure to include the Latin carnival
sounds of Arco Iris Samba Band, the
uplifting voices of the Bibleway Gospel
Choir and lively covers of classic hits by
The Brass Funkeys. Head to Hope Street
Yard for a party vibe and music from
swing, be-bop and hip-hop maestros
The Accidentalists, plus lively Eastern
European beats from The Balkanoes.
Calverley’s Brewery will be doling out
craft beers and mulled cider, plus Lily’s
Kitchen will be popping up with warming
Thai curry, chow mein and spring rolls.
Elsewhere, there’s indie-pop-punk and
wacky lyrics from Goddammit Jeremiah,
funk from the Hi-Fi Dropouts and alt-folk
from Honeywitch plus plenty more – grab
a programme for the full line-up and dust
off your dancing shoes.
Speaking of dancing: both the
Cambridge and Coton Morris Men will be
out in handkerchief-waving, bell-jangling
force, while the brilliant Cambridge Swing
Dance company will be lindy hopping
around, too. If you fancy getting a little
more involved, Cambridge Community
Circus is offering free workshops at
Great Eastern Street car park (12pm and
3.30pm), where you can pick up some
new skills including juggling, spinning
plates and mastering a diabolo.

FO OD

The vast and varied range of delicious
eats is always a huge draw for the fair
and this year is no different. You’ll never

be more than a few steps away from
something tasty at the event, but for the
biggest concentration of traders make a
beeline for the Gwydir Street car park,
which is once again hosting a large food
market. Those with a sweet tooth should
seek out Audrey’s Vegan Cakes, which
specialise in traditional bakes such as
Bakewell tarts, lemon drizzles, carrot
cakes, Victoria sponges, cupcakes and
brownies – all created without an animal
product in sight. They’ll also have some
special seasonal treats including vegan
Christmas cake, mince pies and gift bags
of gingerbread and festive cookies – an
ideal present for any pal on a plantbased diet. Another treat not to miss at
Gwydir Street is Kerief Catering, who’ll be
serving soul-warming Caribbean dishes
including Jamaican pulled jerk chicken
with pineapple salsa and jerk mayo,
plus braised pork belly with homemade
tomato chutney. While there, pick up a
loaf or two from Dovecote Bakery, which
makes fantastic artisan sourdough bread.
It will also have a selection of seasonal
specials, too.
At St Barnabas, swing by Bam Bam
Crêpe, one of the city’s newest street
food vendors. It will be serving a mouthwatering range of crêpes for £5 a piece
with fillings including the signature
Nutella and crushed Oreo. There’ll also

CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE12_028-031 (MILL ROAD WINTER FAIR) BF.indd 31

“It is a great chance to blitz
your Christmas shopping list”
be gourmet burgers courtesy of local
faves Steak & Honour, fluffy steamed bao
with lip-smacking fillings from Guerrilla
Kitchen and tempting Austrian treats
from Holy Schnitzels.
If you’re after a sit down and
something warm to drink, nip over
to Donkey Common, which is by the
swimming pool, and visit The Rural
Coffee Project. Or, if you’re after
something a little stronger, Cambridge
Wine Merchants will be doling out winter
cocktails and dance-worthy tunes at its
Vino Vinyl Bar and Disco outside Bharat
Bhavan, while Thirsty’s beer bus will be
busy keeping the crowds full of Christmas
spirit at St Barnabas.

SHOP

The fair is a great chance to blitz your
Christmas shopping list and pick up
unique gifts from local independent

31

traders. Donkey Common is hosting a
mix of market and craft stalls, including
local charities and a face painting stall.
From handmade soaps to original
artworks to homewares and gifts, there
will be plenty to explore.
At the Petersfield Green marquee, visit
fine art photographer Sara Rawlinson for
a stunning image of a local landmark.
She’ll be selling work from two projects:
one that focuses on Cambridge College
Libraries, another that shows King’s
College Chapel in all its glory. As well as
originals, there will be greeting cards and
prints available for purchase on the day.
The Petersfield Green marquee will
also house festive décor and gifts from
Hook & Light, illustrated cards, books
and prints from Jo Clark Design,
handmade ceramics from Roxane’s
Creations and silver jewellery from
Argentarre, plus lots more. l

D E C E M B E R 2 018

20/11/2018 17:07

B U RWA S H
L A R D E R VO U C H E R
WORTH £50

Found at Burwash Manor in Barton,
The Larder is one of the region’s finest
delicatessens. Stuffed to the brim
with hand-picked delicacies, only the
very best food and drink makes the
shelves, as all the food on display here is
rigorously tasted and approved to ensure
that it makes the grade. Being on a farm
directly influences the produce being
sold; Burwash Larder sells pork and pork
products from Burwash Manor Farm’s
own herd of Essex Saddlebacks and, in
season, asparagus is available, freshly
picked from Burwash’s own beds.
burwashmanor.com

DI N N ER FOR T WO
AT HOT EL DU V I N
WORTH £100

£1500!
WORTH OVER

Cambridge Edition

CHRISTMAS
GIVEAWAY!

Our lucky winner and a guest will be
treated to a delicious three-course dinner
at the newly refurbished Bistro at Hotel
du Vin. Signifying a return to its roots,
the revamped Bistro is reminiscent of the
French bistros that first inspired it, but with
a distinctly contemporary feel. Muted hues,
clean lines and soft lighting complement
the vast windows to create a bright but
warm space, perfect for retreating from
the autumn weather. And, as the cooler
temperatures set in, Hotel du Vin’s Executive
Chef Director Matt Powell has introduced a
new menu that focuses on heart-warming,
mouthwatering, home-style French cooking.
hotelduvin.com

OUR BIG FESTIVE GIVEAWAY IS BACK! ONE LUCKY
READER WILL WIN ALL OF THESE FANTASTIC PRIZES –
TO BE IN WITH A CHANCE, HEAD TO THE CAMBRIDGE
EDITION WEBSITE FOR DETAILS ON HOW TO ENTER

SCUDA MOR E ’ S
A N N UA L BOAT I NG
T ICK ET S
WORTH £270

VO U C H E R F O R T H E A R T H O U N D GA L L E RY
WORTH £50

The Art Hound Gallery, at Burwash Manor, is Cambridge’s premier modern and contemporary art
gallery, offering a unique urban art experience in a country setting. The gallery is an unexpected space
filled with works by some of the biggest names in art, as well as the fast rising stars of the current
scene. The Art Hound specialises in Pop Art and its contemporary legacy, but also houses a huge and
varied collection of works for sale from 1910 to the present.
thearthoundgallery.com

D E C E M B E R 2 018

CE12_032-035 (GIVEAWAY)sg.indd 32

32

Enjoy some messing about on the river,
Cambridge style, with Scudamore’s, who’ll
be giving our winner an Annual Boating
Ticket worth £270. Redeemable on self-hire
punts, canoes or kayaks, you get a choice of
boat to take out every day for an entire year,
with the exception of Christmas Day. You’ll
be free to explore some of Cambridge’s
most iconic sights, from the College Backs
to the glorious Grantchester Meadows, for
the whole of 2019.
scudamores.com

CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

21/11/2018 11:26

CO M P E T I T I O N

TO BE IN WITH A CHANCE OF WINNING THIS FANTASTIC PRIZE BUNDLE AND READ FULL TS & CS VISIT CAMBSEDITION .CO.UK

HO T EL CHOCOL AT
W R E AT H BOX
WORTH £40
This Hotel Chocolat treat box contains a
whopping forty chocolates, two grand snowflakes
and one festive wreath. Crunch into awardwinning treacle tarts, new honey and cashew
supernovas or patisserie-inspired cinnamon
buns. You can also toast the season with the
champagne truffles or delicate mulled wine
chocolates. Hello chocolate heaven!
hotelchocolat.com/uk

Our winner will also be treated to a sumptuous
champagne afternoon tea at Newmarket’s Bedford
Lodge Hotel. In the luxurious setting of Squires
restaurant, you’ll enjoy an array of finger sandwiches
including local smoked salmon and horseradish,
tuck into freshly-baked warm scones slathered in
clotted cream, strawberry jam and lemon curd, and
a delicious selection of cakes such as seasonal berry
tart, praline and chocolate eclairs and vanilla and
strawberry macaron. The tea also comes with a glass
of Moët & Chandon.
bedfordlodgehotel.co.uk

N E A L’S YA R D
B E AU T Y S L E E P C O L L E C T I O N
WORTH £50

Get the ultimate night’s sleep with the Neal’s Yard Bedtime Collection:
a gentle lullaby for the senses containing a trio of calming products.
Inside, you’ll fund the sumptuously rich Beauty Sleep Body Butter, which
is perfect pre-sleep prep, plus Beauty Sleep Concentrate: a best-selling
lightweight serum which helps to support your skin’s natural night-time
regeneration. There’s also a bottle of Goodnight Pillow Mist, which
contains gorgeously scented, relaxing botanicals to help you curl up
peacefully and wake up refreshed.
nealsyardremedies.com

ESCAPE ROOM FOR
SIX AT LOCKHOUSE GAMES
WORTH £140

Located on Regent Street, LockHouse Games offers thrilling
escape games for all ages. They’re open almost every day of the
year and offer a variety of tricky ‘missions’, from Armageddon,
where you must work with your team to destroy a giant meteor,
to Egyptian Tomb, fill with secret doors, big wooden puzzles,
Egyptian art and a life-size sarcophagus! Our winner will
receive a session at LockHouse for six people.
lockhouse.co.uk
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE12_032-035 (GIVEAWAY)sg.indd 33

33

D E C E M B E R 2 018

21/11/2018 11:26

CO M P E T I T I O N

XECO WINES
F I N O S H E R RY
WORTH £15.95

XECO Wines are making it their mission
to bring sherry back into the limelight
with their eye-popping and modern
brand of sherry wines. Working with a
family owned Bodega in Jerez, which was
established in 1876, XECO sherries are
made using the finest Palomino grapes
and the portfolio currently includes a
Fino and an Amontillado. XECO Fino is
light and fresh on the palate with dry
nutty flavours – delicious served straight
up and fridge-cold, or try the 'She &
T' by adding a glug of tonic. XECO
Amontillado takes its colour from the
oak barrels it has been aged in. It smells
sweet but is dry on the palate, making it
a great aperitif before dinner or paired
with cheese /charcuterie.
xecowines.com

An urban spa in the heart of the city centre, the stunning Glassworks Gym & Spa is
located at the Varsity Hotel on Thompson Lane. Our lucky winner will enjoy a day of
relaxing and pampering, taking advantage of the steam room, sauna and jacuzzi, which
looks out across the Cam. As well as a full day’s access to the spa, the winner and their
guest will be treated to a full body massage (available any day but Saturday).
theglassworksgym.co.uk

CAMBRIDGE
DISTILLERY
MASTERCLASSES
& GIN

WORTH £105
Our world-famous local gin
distillery is giving our lucky
winner a bottle of its awardwinning Cambridge Dry Gin,
plus a chance to experience
a masterclass at the Gin Lab
on Green Street, which offers
engaging, entertaining and
informative tutored tastings.
You’ll get a one-hour tasting
revealing how the gins are
made and why, including
a short background on gin
history and production as
well as teaching you how to
taste like a professional, plus a
G&T on arrival and plenty of
tasters throughout.
cambridgeginlab.co.uk

D E C E M B E R 2 018

CE12_032-035 (GIVEAWAY)sg.indd 34

L IL LY PU DS
PU DDING
WORTH £12.75
Our winner will finish their Christmas
dinner in style with this plum pudding
laced with damson gin by renowned
artisan Christmas Pudding producer,
LillyPuds. A new launch for this festive
season, the pudding is a treat for the
tastebuds, with a deliciously rich
combination of the finest vine fruits,
prunes and walnuts, blended together
with stout, brandy and an added kick
from the generous lacing of damson gin.
lillypuds.co.uk

34

CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

21/11/2018 11:26

CO M P E T I T I O N

TO BE IN WITH A CHANCE OF WINNING THIS FANTASTIC PRIZE BUNDLE AND READ FULL TS & CS VISIT CAMBSEDITION .CO.UK

2 T I C K E T S TO B I G R E T R E AT WA L E S
WORTH £338

A glorious festival set in the heart of the Pembrokeshire Coast National
Park, Big Retreat takes place 24-27 May 2019. Set in a beautiful riverside
location, it offers a fusion of feel-good activities, from fitness and
wellbeing fun to arts and crafts, fascinating talks, fabulous food and drink
and plenty of great live music on the main stage, where you can soak
up the sounds and sights while relaxing on a deckchair. With over 200
classes and workshops included in your tickets, from yoga to cookery
workshops, you’re sure to have a fun-packed, feel good weekend!
thebigretreatwales.co.uk

Fudge Kitchen on King’s Parade is a
Cambridge institution, loved by locals
and visitors alike for its authentic
handmade fudge, made using a
recipe from the 1800s and traditional
techniques of ‘slabbing and loafing’
on marble counters. Fresh fudge is
made in this way on a daily basis in full
view of the customers; accompanied
by much banter, fudge sampling and
a fascinating lesson on the history
and science of fudge making. It is not
just a Mecca for the confectionery
cognoscenti, but a tourist attraction.
They’re giving away an hour-long
fudge making experience (for 1-3
people), featuring lots of tasters, a six
slice box to take home, and a ‘make
fudge at home’ kit.
fudgekitchen.co.uk

raw the curtains, lock your
door and settle down with
the perfect wintry read: The
Stranger Diaries follows Clare
Cassidy, a teacher who specialises in the
(fictional) Gothic writer R.M. Holland,
and two other narrators – Clare’s teenage
daughter Georgia, and Detective Sergeant
Harbinder Kaur. The book opens as one
of Clare’s fellow teachers is killed in
mysterious circumstances, a quotation
from R.M. Holland found next to the
body – colliding Clare’s worlds and giving
ever-suspicious DS Kaur good reason to
keep an eye on Clare. A habitual diary
keeper, Clare records her fears for herself
and her daughter in her journal, giving us
glimpses into her innermost thoughts. But
in a frightening twist, it turns out that it’s
not just us who’s spying on Clare’s diary:
she starts to spot writing in her journal
which isn’t her own. And wherever there
are diaries, there are always secrets...
The Stranger Diaries is the first Elly
Griffiths novel not to be part of a
sequence: if you’re already familiar with
the author’s pen name, it’s probably
because of her hit series following
forensic archeologist Dr Ruth Galloway,
or the Stephens and Mephisto novels, set
in the 1950s – both of which keep Elly
extremely busy. “I’ve also written four
standalone books under my own name,
as Domenica de Rosa, which were mainly
romances about Italy and families,” the
author explains. “At the moment I’m
writing two books a year for my two series
– but this is the first standalone crime
novel as Elly Griffiths, which I finished
writing in February this year.”
This book’s beginnings were
appropriately sinister: “I started writing
it on that day last October when the sky

D E C E M B E R 2 018

CE12_038-039 (BOOK CLUB)sg.indd 36

“I just let the story take me”
went strangely yellow,” Domenica says.
“I’d had lunch with my editor Jane in
Brighton, I’d had some ideas about what
I was going to do with this book. We
came out of the restaurant and people
were looking up at the sky – it was really
weird,” she continues. “As I was driving
home, I suddenly realised how I was
going to start the story – with the story of
the Stranger, the man on the train – and I
got home and wrote the first chapter.”
Domenica had wanted to write Gothic
horror for a while, but didn’t want
her book to be historical, or set in the
Victorian era, so struggled with how best
to work in this genre. One of the key
elements of any horror is an atmospheric
location, which in The Stranger Diaries
almost becomes a character itself. “The
school is an amalgamation: a sort of
concentrated broth,” she says. “It’s a little
bit based on a place called West Dean
College, where I teach creative writing,
and my old comprehensive school,

36

Cardinal Newman in Hove, which was
partly an old convent complete with a
story about a nun who fell down the stairs
and haunts the building…”
As you’d expect from such a prolific
writer, Domenica is normally careful
to plot her way through a book before
starting out. However, The Stranger
Diaries saw her take a looser approach.
“This has really been a book where I just
let the story take me,” she says. “I vaguely
knew where I wanted it to go. I didn’t
really know who my three narrators were
when I started, but I knew I wanted to
thread the Victorian ghost story through
it, and that I wanted to bring in the idea
of the diary. I’m very interested in the
idea of why people keep diaries: I’ve kept
one since I was 11 – and I still write in it
quite often, but I’m interested as to why
people do this. I’ve always really been
struck by that bit in The Woman in White
by Wilkie Collins, where Count Fosco
finds Marian’s diary and doesn’t just read
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

20/11/2018 14:12

BOOK CLUB

C AT H Y MO OR E ON T H E ST R A NGER DI A R I ES
novel is told through the eyes of Clare Cassidy, a literature teacher
specialising in the Gothic writer R.M. Holland. Her life and work
tragically collide when a colleague is found dead, with a line from an
R.M. Holland story by her body. What follows is an accomplished,
funny and gripping tale told through the eyes of several protagonists
including Harbinder, the very appealing detective. It is made all the
more enjoyable by Griffiths’s obvious mastery of and pleasure in the
gothic form. If you enjoy it do go on and read The Woman in White
by Wilkie Collins and almost anything by the quite brilliant M.R. James.
Cathy Moore is the director of Cambridge Literary Festival.

I have long been a fan of Elly Griffiths and her best-selling Dr Ruth
Galloway mysteries so I was curious and excited to read her new
standalone novel The Stranger Diaries. I was not disappointed. She
has written a pitch-perfect contemporary gothic thriller which owes
much to the writings of M.R. James and Wilkie Collins.
The opening lines immediately set the tone. “‘If you will permit
me,’ said the Stranger, ‘I’d like to tell you a story. After all, it’s a long
journey and, by the look of those skies, we’re not going to be leaving
this carriage for some time. So, why not pass the hours with some
storytelling? The perfect thing for a late October evening.’” The

it, but writes in it – I’ve always thought
that was just so villainous!” she laughs.
One of her narrators, Clare, keeps a
handwritten diary, while the character’s
daughter Georgia writes a digital journal: this
generational difference was something the
author was keen to explore. “For me, that
process of going from the brain, to the
hand, to the page, is almost therapeutic –
but I think for young people, that’s a bit
different,” she says. “It’s always struck me
that it’s very easy for people like me to

say ‘Ooh, they’re on their phone again…’
– but they’re not always ‘on their phone’.
It’s my generation – I’m 55 – who are on
Twitter and Facebook and things. Quite
a lot of what the younger generation
is doing is creative, and quite literate.
They’re reading a lot, and sometimes
they’re writing, and we forget that: we say
‘oh, they’re playing…’ I wanted to explore
that, and show that Clare, a devoted
mother, didn’t understand what Georgia
was doing or that she was also a writer,
just in a different way.”
Along with diary-keeping, creative
writing features heavily in the plot.
As a creative writing teacher herself,
Domenica had a lot of fun with some of
the criticism that her characters come out
with. “It’s funny,” she says, “people say,
‘Either you can write, or you can’t…’ but
there’s no doubt that you can become a
better writer: you can become better at
anything, can’t you? The real plus about
creative writing courses, writers groups,
anything like that, is that it does just
make you write. Maybe that’s the main
thing: when you’re on a course you have
to do an assignment, you have to write…”
As with most writers, Domenica is
an avid reader. “I’m always reading – I
usually have a couple of books on
the go,” she says. “In my hotel room I
have Tombland, the new C.J. Sansom
and in my bag I also have Venetia by

Georgette Heyer.” It was a book group
recommendation that first introduced her
to C.J. Sansom’s work. “I really enjoy my
book club,” she says. “They introduced
me to all sorts of books, and just getting
together, drinking wine and talking about
books is great…plus people who like books
do tend to be really nice!” she laughs.
If you’re convinced enough to consider
putting The Stranger Diaries forward to
your own book club, Domenica has some
advice to help you persuade others: “I
hope they’d find it an interesting story,
that’s both a ghost story and a modern
crime, and with a bit of humour in it and
some memorable characters. And a nice
dog – it’s important to have a nice dog.” l

Look out for the Cambridge
Edition book club stickers in
Heffers and get money off
our monthly pick.
Heffers is located at 20 Trinity
Street, Cambridge
blackwells.co.uk

UP NEXT MONTH

THE LIGHT IN THE DA R K: A WINTER JOUR NA L
Our first non-fiction selection, next month’s Edition Book Club pick is The Light in the Dark: A Winter Journal, by
multi award-winning memoirist, nature and travel writer Horatio Clare. This evocative exploration of the season
combines scintillating nature writing with a moving personal narrative, touching on issues of depression and
Seasonal Affective Disorder. In a powerful and lyrical exploration of a British winter and the feelings it inspires, Clare
holds a torch against the darkness, illuminating the blackest corners of the season and delving into memory and
myth to explore the powerful hold the season has on us. By learning to see, he writes, we can find the magic, the
light that burns bright at the heart of winter: spring will come again.
THE LIGHT IN THE DARK IS AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE AT HEFFERS. READ ALONG
AND TWEET US YOUR THOUGHTS @CAMBSEDITION, WITH THE HASHTAG
#EDITIONBOOKCLUB FOR A CHANCE TO FEATURE IN THE NEXT ISSUE!

CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE12_038-039 (BOOK CLUB)sg.indd 37

37

D E C E M B E R 2 018

20/11/2018 14:13

CE ADS_DECEMBER.indd 38

22/11/2018 17:56

CE ADS_DECEMBER.indd 39

22/11/2018 17:56

CE ADS_DECEMBER.indd 40

22/11/2018 17:56

FA M I LY DAYS O U T

Family days out

T HE GR E AT OU T DOOR S
Cosying up with the family is one
of the great joys of winter, but
there comes a point when what’s
needed is a run around in the great
outdoors and a few lungfuls of
fresh air. Take a stroll at Wicken
Fen, the National Trust’s oldest
nature reserve and England’s most
famous fen. It’s one of Europe’s
most important wetlands, home to
more than 9,000 species, including
wigeons (medium-sized ducks
with chestnut and yellow heads)

and short-eared owls. Easy to spot
are the large flocks of starlings,
whose stunning ‘murmurations’
signify their intention to settle
down for the night.
Kids can also have a go at
bushcraft over at Wandlebury
Country Park on 21 December.
Designed for children aged 5 to
12, the day is run by experienced,
qualified teachers, who aim
to inspire children about the
outdoors. It’s £38 per child.

W I N T ER PR I N T S AT
BO TA N IC G A R DEN
There’s a wealth of arty inspiration to be had
at the Botanic Garden, so why not combine
some of those ideas with a bit of card to
create something new, at a winter prints
drop-in event that’s free for children. Print
from plants, and make your own unique gift
tags and cards to take home. There’s also
the chance to take a close look at Christmas
plants such as mistletoe, fir trees and holly.
botanic.cam.ac.uk

CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE12_041 (FAMILY)_FE.indd 41

41

FA M I LY
F I R S T S AT U R DAY
The Fitzwilliam Museum holds its latest
Family First Saturday on 1 December. Make
art on a finders-keepers theme, and enjoy
family tours lasting 30 minutes at 2pm and
3pm (recommended for children five and
up). There are also 30-minute storytelling
sessions at 2.30pm and 3.30pm, which are
suitable for under-fives. It’s free, just collect
a sticker from the courtyard entrance.
fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk

STAR & MOUSE CINEMA

Enjoy the ultimate family Christmas movie
on 15 December, when The Star & Mouse
Pictureshow presents Home Alone at Manor
Farm in Bourn. Promising an abundance of
festive cheer, guests can also join in with
carols and have a cup of cocoa with Santa
himself. Hot food and mulled wine will be
on offer, along with a live brass band, toasted
marshmallows and a stocking filler Christmas
market. Tickets are £10.
manorfarmbourn.com
D E C E M B E R 2 018

21/11/2018 10:53

After Hours

NOW
BOOKING

THE NIGHTLIFE EVENTS NOT TO MISS THIS MONTH

ST EP H EN
K A MOS
29 JANUARY,
JUNCTION, £19.50

As everyone seems
pushed to extremes,
Stephen’s main aim is
to cheer us up, so snap
up your tickets.

13
DEC

JOH N GR A N T
7 FEBRUARY, CORN
EX, FROM £28

TRAVIS
Travis play their hit album, The Man Who, in its entirety at the Cambridge Corn
Exchange on 13 December. It was the biggest-selling album of 2000, spending 11
weeks at number 1, and includes Driftwood, Turn, Writing To Reach You and perhaps
most-loved, Why Does It Always Rain On Me? Their second album sold three million
copies and earned Brit Awards for best album and British band. Tickets are £42.50.
cambridgelivetrust.co.uk

Grant creates synthpop with soaring
harmonies and offbeat grooves. His
fourth solo album,
Love Is Magic, came
out in October.

EZIO
Ezio, the legendary local

band formed in 1990,
play the Junction’s J1 on
15 December. Featuring
core duo Ezio Lunedei
and Mark “Booga” Fowell,
they’ve built up a sizeable,
loyal fan base, without
ever quite breaking into
the mainstream.
Tickets are £17.
junction.co.uk

D E C E M B E R 2 018

CE12_036-039 (AFTER HOURS)sg.indd 42

42

H AY SEED
DI X I E
16 MARCH,
JUNCTION, £19

The inventors of
‘rockgrass’, this group
from East Nashville
have been blending
Hank Williams and
AC/DC for more than
18 years.

CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

20/11/2018 16:28

NIG
X XHXTXLXI XF EX X

12
DEC

A WINTER UNION

A festive folk band like no other, A Winter Union
features five leading lights of the British roots
scene. Expect soaring harmonies and exquisite
musicianship, as they perform original seasonal
songs. The band comprises Jade Rhiannon, Katriona
Gilmore, Jamie Roberts, Hannah Sanders and Ben
Savage. Catch them at St Barnabus Church, on Mill
Road, on 12 December. Tickets are £19.
junction.co.uk

CRAIG CHARLES
FUNK AND SOUL CLUB

The Craig Charles Funk and Soul Club returns to
the Junction on 21 December for the BBC Radio 6
Music DJ’s latest club night at the venue. Expect
lashings of 70s grooves, oodles of vintage soul and
some brand new beats. It’s the ultimate Christmas
warm-up and always a fantastic night out. From
10pm, tickets £18.50.
junction.co.uk
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE12_042-045 (AFTER HOURS)sg.indd 43

Gig Guide
JORDAN WORLAND FROM LOCAL MUSIC
WEBSITE SLATE THE DISCO GIVES HIS TOP LIVE
MUSIC PICKS FOR THE MONTH AHEAD

H

ere we are, presenting our annual end of year
‘escape from the Christmas music’ article. And
this December sees a great selection of live music
options for us to enjoy.
Our top tip goes down at the NCI on the 6th, when jazz/
electronic supergroup Szun Waves perform. The trio comprises
saxophonist Jack Wyllie, of minimalist tech-jazz combo
Portico Quartet, drummer Laurence Pike, from outer-rock
experimentalists PVT, and solo electronic explorer Luke
Abbott. Sometimes in improvised music there can be a
distance between listener and players, a sense you’re sitting
back and admiring their interplay and abstraction, but with
Szun Waves’ second album New Hymn To Freedom, you’re
right in there with them, inside the playing, experiencing the
absolute joy the three musicians feel as they circle around
each other, exploring the spaces they’ve opened up.
Remember Razorlight? The band enjoyed hits galore and
widespread success during indie’s mid-noughties heyday.
Fronted by Johnny Borrell, the band have emerged from a
10-year hiatus with a new record; they play the Cambridge
Junction on the 19th. It’s not Christmas without an Ezio or
Dr Feelgood show; fortunately both are at the Junction this
month, as is Chris Wood (1st) and Alabama 3 (14th).
Way back at the turn of the century, Travis graced
Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage in a headline slot. It was the
Scottish rockers’ sophomore record The Man Who that had
propelled the outfit into global superstardom. 18 years on,
Travis are touring the nine-times platinum album, including a
stop at the Cambridge Corn Exchange on the 13th.
Talking of Glastonbury, as you do in December, Orbital
have graced Worthy Farm with numerous appearances, their
1994 set being widely considered a pivotal moment for UK
dance music. 2018 has seen the electronic duo celebrate 30
years in music and release their ninth studio album, Monsters
Exist. The Hartnoll brothers bring that new album, plus their
extensive back catalogue, to the Corn Exchange on the 19th.
Nothing says Christmas like the annual UK Subs Portland
Arms show in December, this year taking
place on the 6th with Freedom Faction
in support. The same venue also
hosts the Green Mind end-of-year
shindig. Taking place on the 29th,
the night will be headlined by one of
Cambridge’s biggest revelations this
year, Lemondaze. The four-piece
mix 90s shoegaze twisted with
energetic new shapes.

43

D E C E M B E R 2 018

23/11/2018 09:20

CE ADS_DECEMBER.indd 44

22/11/2018 17:56

XXXXXXXX

T HE
M AGIC OF
MOTOW N

DISCO
U N DERGROU N D
Disco Underground – the new club
night from Wonky Disco and Wild
Wood Disco, returns to 2648 for
its second outing on 22 December.
With DJs including Stuart Banks,
Tonky, Valerio and a yet-to-berevealed special guest taking to the
decks, you can be sure of a night of
great tunes: expect house, disco and
funk music. There’ll also be crazy
décor, a whole lot of glitter, face
paint and plenty more surprises. The
event runs 9pm to 2am and tickets
are £10, available from Ticket Tailor.
tickettailor.com

The most soulful party in town
is back with 40 non-stop classic
Motown hits, glittering costume
changes and dazzling dance
moves at the Corn Exchange on
8 December.
Catch the timeless tunes of
Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Stevie
Wonder, The Temptations,
The Supremes, The Four Tops,
Martha Reeves, the Jackson 5,
Smokey Robinson and more.
Tickets from £21.75.
cambridgelivetrust.co.uk

ORBITAL
Having split up twice over the years, electronic music
legends Orbital are now back together, on the road
and making music again. Monsters Exist, released in
September this year, was the veteran dance duo’s first
album since 2012 and met widespread critical acclaim.
Catch them at the Cambridge Corn Exchange on 19
December, tickets are £28.
cambridgelivetrust.co.uk

CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE12_036-039 (AFTER HOURS)sg.indd 45

45

D E C E M B E R 2 018

20/11/2018 16:28

CE ADS_DECEMBER.indd 46

22/11/2018 17:56

NEW YEAR'S EVE

Party Time
SEE IN 2019 WITH A BANG AT ONE OF THESE NEW YEAR’S EVE EVENTS

B E D F O R D LO D G E
Welcome in 2019 in style at Newmarket's
Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa. Choose
between a black tie Gala Dinner (£135 per
person) in the award-winning Squires
Restaurant, which offers a luxury fivecourse dinner and a piper to see in the
New Year, or alternatively, spend your
evening at the New Year’s Eve Classics
Ball (£115 per person) with a black tie
Dinner Dance. The four-course dinner
starts at 7pm, then comes disco tunes, a
traditional piper, plus haggis, neeps and
tatties for both NYE packages.
bedfordlodgehotel.co.uk

THIRST Y
W I N T E RGA R T E N
The final night of this year’s Wintergarten
– in its new home in the garden at the
Gonville Hotel next to Parker’s Piece – is
on New Year’s Eve for a double send off
to 2018 and the popular al fresco drinks
and street food spot. Get a fab selection
of craft beer from the Thirstybus bar,
together with great choonz inside giant
tipis, and warm up next to fire pits and
heaters. There will also be a choice of
street food from the best vans in town.
wearethirsty.co.uk

D E LU C A
A sumptuous five-course menu and
exclusive access to the top floor piano bar
takes place at this ticket-only celebration.
After dinner, Robin P-iano will lead
the requests and sing-along as midnight
approaches. Early booking is highly
recommended as the restaurant and
piano bar will not be open to the public
on New Year’s Eve.
delucacucina.co.uk

T H E W I L LOW T R E E
Embrace the Parisian spirit at The Willow
Tree on New Year’s Eve, with a dinner
and show from 8pm. Featuring a Midnight
in Paris theme, choose gourmet delights
from a fabulous five-course taster menu,
including fizz on arrival. This themed
dining party and show is a collaboration
with the Neon Moon Club and will
feature enchanting French décor, close-

CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE12_041 (NEW YEARS EVE).indd 47

up performers and live music until the
early hours, bringing a glamorous vintage
vibe from the capital of style. Tickets are
£90 per person.
feastandfrolic.co.uk/the-willow-tree

B ROW N S
Feast on a whopping five courses at
Browns with its treat of a New Year’s
Eve menu. There’s the aforementioned
five courses for £44.95, which includes
a classic Bellini, a blend of prosecco
and peach that’s always a delight. After
canapés on arrival, try beetroot, porcini
and red wine crumble for starters,
followed by 28-day aged sirloin steak or
slow-cooked salted pork belly for your

47

main, with apple, cranberry and prosecco
crumble for dessert.
browns-restaurants.co.uk

N OV I
Sometimes it’s good to be left in the
dark, but just a little bit! At Novi, see in
the New Year at a Glow in the Dark bash,
complete with local DJs and bespoke
drinks packages.
Go dressed to glow with tickets costing
£10 in advance and £15 on the door. The
winter terrace will be a fully covered and
heated winter wonderland, complete with
festoon lighting, blankets and an array of
cocktail specials.
novicambridge.co.uk

The spectacular event is back for one night of
glamour and glitz with a special collaboration
between the Willow Tree in Bourn and the
fantastically theatrical Neon Moon club.
7pm | The Willow Tree | £65
feastandfrolic.co.uk

Celebrating 30 years of their greatest shows
and hits, this stop on the 2018 tour To Be Here
Someday celebrates the band’s entire career.
7pm | Corn Exchange | from £23.25
cambridgelivetrust.co.uk

4 DECEMBER

BJÖRN AGAIN
The internationally acclaimed show stops off
in Cambridge as part of its 30th anniversary
tour. Come down and enjoy the timeless and
enduring appeal of ABBA’s greatest music in
this show-stopping performance.
7.30pm | Corn Exchange | from £28
cambridgelivetrust.co.uk
8 DECEMBER

THE MAGIC OF MOTOWN
Seen by over one million people worldwide,
this hugely popular and seemingly unstoppable
show comes to the Corn Exchange, presenting
flamboyant style and toe-tapping, instantly
recognisable songs. It all adds up to a proper
slice of Motown magic.
7.30pm | Corn Exchange | from £21.75
cambridgelivetrust.co.uk
8 DECEMBER

CAMBRIDGE PHILHARMONIC
Commemorating the centenary of Leonard
Bernstein’s birth, this orchestral performance
showcases the work of a giant of 20th century
music. Enjoy tunes from West Side Story and
Wonderful Town.
7.30pm | West Road Concert Hall | from £10
westroad.org
9 DECEMBER

5 DECEMBER

LONDON
COMMUNITY GOSPEL CHOIR

T HE OV ER TON ES
This slick vocal group light up the Corn Exchange with a night of
fabulous, Christmassy covers and original songs.
7.30pm | Corn Exchange | from £25.50
cambridgelivetrust.co.uk

AUSTRALIAN
PINK FLOYD SHOW
The leading and biggest show of its kind in the
world, the Australian Pink Floyd Experience is a
must for fans of the band.
7.30pm | Corn Exchange | from £32.50
cambridgelivetrust.co.uk
12 DECEMBER

TOM ALLEN: ABSOLUTELY
As seen on Mock the Week and Royalty Variety
Performance, Tom Allen brings his riotous
comedy show to Cambridge for the extended
dates of his hugely popular tour.
8pm | West Road Concert Hall | £17
westroad.org
12 DECEMBER

LOVE ACTUALLY IN CONCERT
Following the sell-out tour last year,
everybody’s favourite Christmas film actually is
coming to Cambridge – along with an incredible
live orchestra.
7.30pm | Corn Exchange | from £42.50
cambridgelivetrust.co.uk
13 DECEMBER

TRAVIS – THE MAN WHO
The leading Britpop band take their seminal
album on tour again – and it sounds as fresh as
when it was released 19 years ago.
7.30pm | Corn Exchange | £42.50
cambridgelivetrust.co.uk

After a hugely well-received reunion in
2017, 90s electronic music pioneers Orbital
(brothers Paul and Phil Hartnoll) are promising
their fans that this time, they’re back for good.
They hit Cambridge this month with one of
their hypnotic, unmissable shows.
7.30pm | Corn Exchange | £28
cambridgelivetrust.co.uk

Join Robert Powell and Susan Jameson on a
journey back in time to the Victorian era, for a
special Christmas show filled with magical ideas
and well-loved music from the likes of Lewis
Carroll, Edward Lear, and Gilbert and Sullivan.
3pm & 5pm | from £10 | Saffron Hall
saffronhall.com

D E C E M B E R 2 018

20/11/2018 12:55

CE ADS_DECEMBER.indd 52

22/11/2018 17:56

A DV E RT I S E M E N T F E AT U R E

DOORS NOW OPEN
TO MODERN NEW
CAMBRIDGE SHOW HOMES
Three- and four-bedroom homes released for sale at exciting Hauxton Road site

B

arratt Homes Eastern Counties
recently opened the doors to
two beautiful new show homes
at Trumpington Meadows,
presenting Cambridge homebuyers with
an exclusive opportunity to view the
sought-after properties on the latest
phase of the development.
Sylva is the tenth phase of the popular
Hauxton Road development, which will
deliver 1,200 new homes to Cambridge.
The five-star homebuilder has unveiled
its Casa Plus and Heim show homes,
which both feature four bedrooms and
are a showcase of the contemporary style
of properties on offer at Sylva, with floor
to ceiling windows and modern layouts
throughout the development.
Annette Hurst, Sales Director at
Barratt Homes Eastern Counties, said:
“We are very pleased to have launched
our highly anticipated new show homes
at Trumpington Meadows.
“The desirable Casa Plus and Heim
style homes are perfect for growing
families but boast strong qualities suitable
for a range of different homebuyers due
to their contemporary layouts carefully
designed for modern living.
“Our show homes are a great tool
for buyers to see the high quality of the
properties themselves as well as allowing
them to picture what their dream home

at the development could look like.”
The Casa Plus show home also boasts
a self-contained studio over the double
detached garage, which a number of the
properties at Sylva benefit from.
Annette continued: “Having a studio
over the garage is a unique feature
of some of the properties at Sylva
and our new show home is a great
example of how this space can be
utilised by purchasers.”
The new show homes are also a
great opportunity for property seekers
to see the latest in interior design, as
the Casa Plus and Heim show homes
have been kitted out to encompass the
contemporary feel of Cambridge.
Trumpington Meadows is an awardwinning collection of homes set next to
an 148-acre country park and less than

three miles from Cambridge city centre.
Residents benefit from the best of both
worlds with all that the city centre has
to offer within easy reach, while still
being able to make the most of the
tranquil surroundings.
The development’s unique location
offers a chance to retreat from the hustle
and bustle to a beautiful parkland setting,
while keeping city amenities close by.
There are currently two-, three- and
four-bedroom homes for sale with prices
starting from £375,000.l
To find out more information or to view the
newly opened show homes, please visit the
sales centre on Hauxton Road, open Monday
12.30pm-5.30pm and Tuesday to Sunday
10am-5.30pm. Alternatively call the sales
information line on 0330 057 6000 or visit
www.barratthomes.co.uk.

TERMS & CONDITIONS APPLY

Offer available on selected plots only. Terms and conditions apply. See website for details, subject to contract and status.
Prices correct at time of going to press. Images include optional upgrades at additional cost. Following withdrawal or
termination of any offer, we reserve the right to extend, reintroduce or amend any such offer as we see fit at any time.
Calls to 03 numbers are charged at the same rate as dialling an 01 or 02 number. If your fixed line or mobile service
has inclusive minutes to 01/02 numbers, then calls to 03 are counted as part of this inclusive call volume. Non-BT
customers and mobile phone users should contact their service providers for information about the cost of calls.

CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE12_053 (BIDWELLS ADV)sg.indd 53

53

D E C E M B E R 2 018

22/11/2018 12:24

CE ADS_DECEMBER.indd 54

22/11/2018 17:56

Food & Drink
N E WS • R E V I E WS • CHRISTMAS

CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE12_055 (FOOD OPENER)SG.indd 55

55

R E C I P E S • FO O D I E G I F TS

D E C E M B E R 2 018

22/11/2018 12:58

R E S TAU R A N T R E V I E W

The Three Hills

P

UP THIS MONTH, WE PAY A VISIT TO BARTLOW’S COSY COUNTRYSIDE HIDEAWAY
WITH ROOMS AND A RENOWNED RESTAURANT

riding itself on offering guests ‘the
warmest welcome in Cambridgeshire’,
The Three Hills is found nestled on
the Cambs-Essex border in Bartlow,
a stone’s throw from Linton. It’s the
only remaining pub in this tiny, historysteeped village, which is surrounded by
pretty countryside and home to a small
community of just over 100 residents.
It’s also home to our area’s answer to
the Pyramids, the Bartlow Hills: a series
of huge ancient burial mounds that
date back to early Roman times. It’s this
historical claim to fame which inspired
the name of The Three Hills pub – though
the building has a rich and storied past
in its own right, having been open as an
alehouse since 1847.
The pub has experienced both huge
success and dismal failure in its long
history, but after waxing and waning
in popularity for decades, the current
trajectory is pointing determinedly
upwards thanks to current owners Chris
and Sarah Field, who took the reins in
late 2015. Under their steer, The Three
Hills has been restored to its former glory
thanks to a tasteful makeover (including
the doing away with of some unappealing
post-war modern features) and the
addition of chic new accommodation.
The food offering, too, has had a
fabulously successful overhaul, resulting
in the pub receiving two AA Rosettes and
a nod in the 2019 Michelin Guide.
But a cash injection and culinary
ambition have not come at the expense of

D E C E M B E R 2 018

CE12_058-059 (REVIEW)sg.indd 56

charm and community spirit. What greets
you when you cross the threshold at The
Three Hills is a welcoming, irresistibly
cosy country pub with smiling staff,
happy locals, roaring log fires, comfy
armchairs and a book-lined snug that
calls out to be relaxed in.
THE FOOD

Come dinner time, we’re led through
the bar area into a smart, oak-beamed
orangery, which hums with happy diners
on our Thursday evening visit. The food
offering is divided into pub classics
(including steaks and an excellentsounding burger), and a small menu of
elegant restaurant fare. We began with
a ‘Hen of the Woods’ starter, which
made a worthy centrepiece out of these
deliciously earthy mushrooms, artfully
served with girolles, caper berries, and a
sweet and sour green bean salad. Equally
beautifully presented was the Scottish
salmon starter, which arrived adorned
with edible flowers and a feisty wasabi
cream and buttermilk dressing.
There were more Japanese flavours to
come in my main course, the miso steak.
A perfectly pink and rare sirloin cooked in
an umami-rich miso marinade, the meat
was taken to decadent new heights with
a mound of truffle mash and lashings of
rich caramelised onion broth.
Over on the other side of the table,
a steamed venison pudding was being
consumed with impressive speed. Perfect
pastry, rich gravy and meltingly tender
meat made this hearty plate of food
a soul-warming winner: the venison’s
gamey flavour a perfect match for its
accompanying juniper sauce.
The desserts continued the high
standards set for presentation, but while
the caramelised pineapple with Szechuan
pepper had wow-factor, the highlight

was the velvety chocolate and caramel
fondant, surrounded by a cornucopia of
handmade confections including truffles
and roasted white chocolate.
THE ROOMS

The Three Hills has six bedrooms, each
with their own distinct character. Ours,
the beautifully appointed Rosetta, was
located on the ground floor of the plush
B&B annex across the carpark. Tucked
away from the bustle of the pub, it was
peaceful and tastefully decorated: all
Farrow and Ball paints, vases of fresh
lavender, paperback-lined bookshelves
and thick goose down duvets. The
luxurious bathroom – complete with rain
shower and White Company toiletries –
got a big thumbs up, as did the king-sized
bed and array of mod cons including a
dinky Roberts radio and fully-stocked
Nespresso machine. These are rooms
designed for hunkering down and cosying
up in, which we happily did, enjoying a
blissful night’s sleep in the ludicrously
comfy bed before awaking to a crisp
winter’s morning and crunching across
the carpark for a hearty full English.
THE VERDICT

Combining village pub, fine dining
restaurant and mini boutique hotel, The
Three Hills succeeds in each category.
The cosy, country-chic interiors make
it a prime spot for a wintery feast, but
with its charming terrace and large
garden, extending all the way down
to the river, it’s a pub for seasons. As
smart as the place looks though, the
food is the star attraction: stunningly
presented throughout, it more than lives
up to its visual promise. If you’re after
an indulgent night away, surrounded by
peaceful countryside, make The Three
Hills top of your minibreak wish list. l

“The food is the star attraction”
56

CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

22/11/2018 11:54

R E STAU RA N T R E V I E W

W H AT:

A cosy pub
offering both
pub classics and
elegant dining.
Chic, newly
refurbished
rooms are also
available

W H ER E:

Bartlow,
Cambridgeshire,
right on the
Essex border

HOW
MUCH:

Two courses
£27.50, three
courses £35

CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE12_058-059 (REVIEW)sg.indd 57

57

D E C E M B E R 2 018

22/11/2018 11:54

CE ADS_DECEMBER.indd 58

22/11/2018 17:56

Food News
A MONTHLY ROUND-UP OF GASTRO GOINGS-ON AROUND CAMBRIDGESHIRE

TEA BACK IN TIME
Experience the splendour of a bygone
age in the luxurious surroundings
of Parker’s Tavern, with their new
historical afternoon tea. Inspired
by the city and the long list of
academics that have made their mark
on Cambridge, chef Tristan Welch’s
playful style and flair extends to the
tea, which will be served in the library
at the restaurant.
Every dish on the menu has a story
behind it. A trio of sandwiches are
inspired by the 4th Earl of Sandwich,
who invented his namesake
afternoon tea staple (and studied
at Trinity College). Fillings include
coronation chicken with charred
apricots – capturing the spirit of the
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE12_059-065 (FOOD NEWS)_FE.indd 59

original coronation feast on Parker’s
Piece – and house-cured spiced beef
with Norfolk mustard and spiced
Parker’s pickles (honouring the cows
that used to graze on Parker’s Piece).
For those with a sweet tooth,
there’s Duke of Cambridge tart,
Parker’s football truffles, or Sir
Isaac Newton’s apple, a glazed apple
mousse with a compote centre. No
afternoon tea would be complete
without scones – plum pudding with
caramelised apple butter, raspberry
jam and clotted cream are sure to hit
the spot. The afternoon tea costs £33
per person and must be booked 24
hours in advance.
parkerstavern.com

59

D E C E M B E R 2 018

20/11/2018 12:50

NEW MENU
AT NEW-LOOK
BISTRO
Hotel du Vin’s revamped bistro
returns to its roots with a look that’s
reminiscent of the French bistros that
first inspired it.
Muted hues and soft lighting create
a bright, warm space, and the hotel’s
executive chef director Matt Powell has
a new menu that focuses on mouthwatering, home-style French cooking.
Firm favourites coq au vin and
cassoulet return, as well as new specials
such as duck shepherd’s pie and whole
roast partridge.
Lighter dishes include sole meunière
or Roquefort, pear and walnut salad,
while tarte au citron, crème brûlée and
Bramley apple charlotte offer sweet
treats for your tastebuds.
As well as the bistro, both the bar
and bedrooms have been revamped
in recent months. While retaining the
warmth of the former cellar, the bar’s
modern update features a carefully
selected wine list that brings together
various regions and grapes to suit
all palates.
hotelduvin.com

D E C E M B E R 2 018

CE12_059-065 (FOOD NEWS)_FE.indd 60

60

CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

20/11/2018 12:50

FO O D & D R I N K

My
Favourite
Table
TINE ROCHE, DIRECTOR AT
CAMBRIDGE COOKERY SCHOOL
& CAFE, GIVES HER EATING AND
DRINKING TIPS FOR THE CITY
l WHERE

IS YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE TO EAT
IN CAMBRIDGE?

Restaurant 22, since Sam and Alex took over. Modern,
beautiful, seasonal and simply plate-lickingly delicious
food. Sustainably and locally sourced, fairly priced and
served without any pomp or fuss. Perfect.
l YOU’RE

HAVING A NIGHT IN: WHERE ARE
YOU CALLING FOR TAKEAWAY?

I don’t. I know it makes me a bit of a weirdo. But no
matter what I think I fancy, what arrives is without
fail disappointing. It’s the combination of the soulless
presentation and the total lack of declaration of source.
I only eat animal protein when I trust the supplier to
serve sustainable, high welfare meat or fish. With many
companies there is no clarity at all as to where the food
comes from, and by that I mean what the standards
of animal welfare were as well as what the restaurant’s
sourcing policy is. I find it very surprising how blindly
people trust food from out of sight production kitchens.
l WHERE

DO YOU LIKE TO SHOP FOR
INGREDIENTS?

Simon Steel’s stall on the market on a Sunday morning.
Superb, freshly dug vegetables at wonderfully low prices,
directly from the grower.
l WHAT

DO YOU LOVE ABOUT THE
CAMBRIDGE FOOD SCENE?

As well as the recent arrival of assured but informal
dining such as Restaurant 22, I’ve welcomed the arrival
of Maison Clement on Hills Road. We are artisan bakers
here, and I confess I am very particular about bread, so
this French baker who bakes to the exacting standards of
bakeries in France is a small miracle.
l WHAT

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE MORE OF?

The high rents and rates in Cambridge make it nigh
on impossible for independent businesses to establish
themselves. I would love to see new restaurants offering
genuine cuisines – Middle Eastern, South American,
Vietnamese and Japanese. London is full of high quality,
contemporary places who have swapped the old school
decor for modern and fresh, and who cook genuine
dishes without pandering to perceived British palate
preferences. I would like to see more of that here.

CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE12_059-063 (FOOD NEWS)_FE.indd 61

61

D E C E M B E R 2 018

23/11/2018 09:26

CE ADS_DECEMBER.indd 62

22/11/2018 17:56

FO O D & D R I N K

BOTANICAL
DELIGHTS
Chefs Alex Rushmer and Lawrence Butler are
again joining forces with Cambridge Distillery
to create a delicious winter dining experience at
the gin-maker’s Grantchester showroom.
Formerly found at The Hole in the Wall
in Little Wibraham, and soon to be cooking
treats at the much-anticipated Vanderlyle on
Mill Road, the pair began talking with distillery
co-founders William and Lucy Lowe about a
winter collaboration as soon as their summer
pop-up at the venue ended.
“I’m even more excited about this one,” says
Lawrence. “Winter is my favourite time of year
to cook, and the gins’ botanicals are a perfect
match for bold dishes and big flavours.
“We’ve had a fantastic time coming up with
the menu and are really excited about cooking
in Grantchester again.”
William, the master distiller, will be creating
a matched drinks flight to complement the
botanical tasting menu.
“Our innovative approach to distillation
focuses on capturing fresh botanicals at
precisely the right time of year, to create our
award-winning gins – which is the philosophy
that Alex and Lawrence have regarding seasonal
produce,” says Lucy.
The pop-up takes place over ten nights
from 27 November to 8 December (excluding
Sundays and Mondays).
There are six courses at £70 per person, with
tickets through eventbrite.co.uk

SIX GETS FESTIVE
Fancy unlimited mulled wine to go with your
afternoon tea? Sounds too good, but it’s
true at Six, the panoramic bar and brasserie
at Varsity Hotel & Spa. Their suitably-titled
bottomless afternoon tea features a seasonally
scrumptious selection of sweet and savoury
delights, from warm mince pies to homemade
Christmas cake, not to mention a hot, ginbased cocktail with orange juice and honey on
arrival. Enjoy looking over historic Cambridge’s
heart from the sixth-floor vantage point, with
floor-to-ceiling windows throughout giving
you stunning views. Scones, jam and clotted
cream accompany smoked salmon, coronation
chicken and cucumber sandwiches, and festive
decorations get everyone into seasonal spirits,
making Six a jolly Yuletide destination.
The afternoon tea is £29.50 per person, for a
maximum of two hours.
sixcambridge.co.uk

CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE12_059-065 (FOOD NEWS)_FE.indd 63

63

D E C E M B E R 2 018

20/11/2018 12:51

CE ADS_DECEMBER.indd 64

22/11/2018 18:14

FO O D & D R I N K

FESTIVE FOODIE
MUST HAVES
THE TEAM FROM GRUB CLUB, CAMBRIDGE’S
FOODIE NETWORKING GROUP, ADVISE ON
SOME TASTY TOP BUYS

CHRISTMAS AT ELY MARKET
It’s a busy month at Ely Markets, beginning with Festive Lates,
which take place on the first three Wednesdays in December.
Pop along from 4pm to 8.30pm to enjoy delicious street food,
live music and to discover unique gifts from local artisans
and producers. In the week leading up to Christmas, there
will be daytime mini-markets selling festive food, gifts and
flowers (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday), followed by the
Charter Market on the 20th and a special Christmas Market on
Friday 21 December. On the weekend before Christmas Day,
the Farmers’ Market and the regular Saturday Craft, Food &
Vintage Market will be bigger than ever, while Sunday’s market
is the perfect time to finish your last-minute shopping.
elymarkets.co.uk

CHO CC A
MO CC A

PUK K A T E A
A DV EN T
C A L EN DA R

A luxurious gift, featuring a
range of chocolate-covered
nuts and fruits.
£8.99, available nationwide in
farm shops and delis or via
chocca-mocca.com

Try a different tea every day in
the build up to Christmas!
£10, available from
Simply Stylish
simplystylishsuffolk.co.uk

T H E OR A NGERY
GI N

BEE BEE
WR APS

Ideal for a wonderfully
Christmassy G&T or in a
festive cocktail – check out this
website for lots of tasty serving
suggestions that will see you
through Christmas and the
New Year in style.
£35, available at Majestic
Wine and Burwash Manor

Reduce the volume of plastic
wrap used in your house with
these practical and pretty
wraps. They help to keep
your food for longer, reducing
waste without the need for
disposable plastic.
£14, available from
beebeewraps.com

FOR AGI NG
FOX M AYOS

H A R RY
P O T T ER
WA N DS

W IN E A N D
TA PA S AT C W M
A mouth-watering festive edition of Que Rico Tapas and
Cambridge Wine Merchants’ popular collaboration takes place
on 15 December.
The Christmas Special Wine and Tapas Tasting features
Spanish festive dishes complemented by the best wines from
the country, paired by CWM, at its Cherry Hinton Road branch.
On arrival, guests will receive a glass of cava, hand-carved
serrano bodega ham and canapés.
There will be a raffle at the end of dinner, with several prizes
on offer. Tickets are £40 each.
If you can’t wait till then, there’s also Sunday Tapas on
2 December, from 12.30 to 3.30pm.
quericotapas.com

CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE12_065 (FOOD NEWS FINAL PAGE) BF.indd 65

A Boxing Day must for brunch
– a perfect accompaniment for
leftovers. £2.99, available
on Ocado and at farm shops
and delis nationwide

65

A must for budding
magicians and Potterheads.
£10, available via
originalcandyco.com

D E C E M B E R 2 018

21/11/2018 10:44

How to
Flourish
CHARLOTTE GRIFFITHS MEETS CALIXTA KILLANDER, A
REVOLUTIONARY LOCAL PRODUCE GROWER WHO SUPPLIES
SOME EXQUISITE VEG, SALADS AND GREENS TO SOME OF
THE FINEST RESTAURANTS IN THE COUNTRY

B

ack in October, after months of
creeping concern for the planet
and ardent campaigns against
plastic straws, the word of 2018
was announced as “single-use”. But as
you’d expect, Cambridge foodies were
ahead of the curve: it feels like every
coffee shop in the city now offers its
own branded Keep-Cup, and vibrantly
coloured metal water bottles were
clearly the commuter’s accessory du jour
during the long hot summer. Whether
it’s down to that slightly unsettling
weather, or programmes such as Blue
Planet highlighting damage caused by
waste products, there’s no question that
many of us are starting to take a more
considered approach to how we treat our
habitat. Avoiding single-use items is a
start, and we’re all too aware of the power
of consumers voting with their feet –
but what else should a foodie be looking
for, besides a pot of metal straws on
the backbar?
Nowadays, menus filled with tales
of provenance have become almost
commonplace: dishes are rarely seen
without a geolocator or seasonal suffix
telling a story, and giving the customer
a warm glow – but what does it all
actually mean?
Like the reusable cup nestling in your
bag, this isn’t a single-use question: it’s
one we should be asking over and over
again, especially of our most favourite

D E C E M B E R 2 018

CE12_066-069 (FOOD FEATURE)sg.indd 66

restaurants. Where does your produce
come from?
As long as you don’t ask them midservice, most responsibly minded chefs
will take great delight in sharing their
reasoning, in enthusiastic detail. Knowing
where your produce comes from and why
you’ve chosen it is the starting point
for any independent eatery worth its
salt, and a growing number of top-flight
restaurants in London and Cambridge,
including several adorned with Michelin
stars, would – when asked – put one hand
on their heart and with the other, point at
an unassuming cluster of buildings just off
the A1307, between Linton and Abington.
Meet Calixta Killander, farmer and
founder of Flourish, whose singleminded pursuit of flavour and steadfast
commitment to doing things properly has
seen her 18-month old business bloom.
Born locally, Calixta spent seven years
studying, working and learning from
agricultural businesses across America,
before returning to this small set of
rolling fields to take a different approach
to farming. This revolutionary fresh
produce grower now supplies some of
the finest restaurants in the country with
exquisite vegetables, unexpected salads
and unusual greens: all fresh, all grown
by hand, and all – most importantly –
completely delicious.
At Flourish, organic is only the
beginning. Calixta’s fields also never
see tractor fumes, with heavy work done
by Bill and Ben – two Comtois horses
– and a small team of workers who
carry out the finer weeding and handharvesting required to produce crops of
this astonishing quality. But it all starts
with the soil.
“It’s boring to hear about for a lot of
people – it’s very farmy, and not very
foodie – but things like green manures
are absolutely central to regenerative
agriculture, which is what we’re trying to

66

do here,” Calixta says. “We’re investing
in the fertility bank of the farm, rather
than just extracting from it. It’s beyond
organic agriculture, beyond sustainability,
and it’s absolutely key – not just for a
biodiverse ecosystem, but for flavourful
produce. For us, flavour is so important
– it’s something we absolutely cannot
compromise on. And building amazing
rich soil filled with microorganisms and
beneficial bacteria has a huge impact on
what you’re going to harvest.”
As a producer, putting time and energy
into growing non-sellable crops like green
manures, for example, is costly, and it’s
understandable why other small-scale
growers wouldn’t be able to do it. But
for Calixta, it’s a non-negotiable. “This
approach is really challenging. It’s not as
easy as planting a seed and harvesting it
later, but it’s one of those things: if you
invest now, and incorporate it into your
farm, you’ll be paid back one thousand
times in the future.”
Keen foodies might recognise Calixta
from a recent issue of Observer Food
Monthly, where chef Tomos Parry from
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

20/11/2018 12:39

FO O D & D R I N K

CALIXTA’S FOODIE PICK
One place that I adore is the
Queen’s Head in Newton – it’s
my favourite pub. They have
food trucks there, and because
I don’t have time to get to
foodPark, or the events, it’s a
really great way to go and try
different food trucks… and also
the pub is just amazing.

“I adore crazy vegetables. It
gives me so much joy”
newly-starred restaurant Brat – one of
Flourish’s clients – was photographed
at the farm, alongside Calixta and her
horses, to show the close connection
between chef and grower. And it’s this
link that Calixta was focused on when she
started Flourish in the summer of 2017,
having been inspired by her experiences
in the States and spotting that selling
direct to restaurants was the most
sensible route to follow. But it’s not just
about business strategy: it’s also the joy
of interacting with people who share her
enthusiasm for unusual produce.
“I adore crazy vegetables,” Calixta
laughs. “I love hunting out wild, wacky

CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE12_066-069 (FOOD FEATURE)sg.indd 67

things, and that’s something which
gives me so much drive and joy. I
wanted to be able to do that, but I also
understand that most people wouldn’t
know what to do with celtuce, for
example – but I know there’d be chefs
out there who’d be overjoyed. When I
moved back, I made a list of all these
restaurants in the UK, mainly in London,
that I thought – in ten years’ time, this
is who I want to be working with. And…
it’s crazy, and I don’t know how, but
we’re already working with most of those
restaurants. It’s a combination of lots of
magical things that have happened, with
wonderful people helping.”

67

As you’d expect, it’s difficult to grow to
order, with long seasons, changing trends
and unpredictable weather sometimes
causing havoc – but Calixta’s clients
now trust her judgement and quality
enough that they’ll take whatever produce
Flourish can share. “The chefs we’re
working with like trying new things,”
she says, “and they’re just supportive
of us as a farm rather than asking for a
specific carrot.”
In return for such astonishing quality
produce, Calixta hopes that Flourish’s
regenerative, rather than sustainable,
approach will be shared more widely.
“Chefs have this amazing opportunity –
they’re leading the industry,” she says.
“They decide what the next trendy
vegetable is, and everyone will copy
– supermarkets and so on. So if this
regenerative approach can be shared
with the public, hopefully that
information will spread further. It’s got
to be talked about in different areas
before it becomes recognised.”
So what’s a day like at Cooks Pen Farm?
“In peak season, I’ll get up about 4am. u
D E C E M B E R 2 018

20/11/2018 12:39

CE ADS_DECEMBER.indd 68

22/11/2018 17:56

FO O D X&X XDXRXIXNX KX

I’ll have a quick brekkie and tea, and then
head out immediately,” Calixta says. “On
a farm, in the summer, lots of tasks have
to be done first thing, when it’s cooler.
Usually we’ll get harvesting right away,
especially the finer leaves that need to be
picked really early or the quality becomes
terrible and their shelf-life diminishes.
“Then we get things brought in and
packed up – and usually then I’ll do horse
work, which also has to happen early in
the morning. I’ll go and get Bill and Ben
from the pasture, bring them up, groom
them, harness, and hitch them up to –
usually – the cultivator… And afterward

CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE12_066-069 (FOOD FEATURE)sg.indd 69

they have a shower, go in the stables
and cool down, and it sounds ridiculous
but they have fans, because they’re such
big horses… they’ve got the good life!”
she laughs.
“We’re also trying to be organised with
a weekly routine – so all of our tomatoes
need to be trellised and pruned weekly,
courgettes and cucumbers are picked
daily, which usually happens after lunch –
planting usually happens in the morning
because there are better conditions… then
we’d do weeding, cultivating, all sorts of
different jobs.”
Delivery days, when Flourish produce
is dropped off at restaurants throughout
Cambridge and London, are totally
different, seeing the whole team focus on
harvesting, packing and then delivering
on the very same day – meaning that in
some Flourish-supplied eateries, you’ll
be served produce that was in the ground
that morning.
“For example – our mixed salad is
seeded weekly: some are cut multiple
times and will regrow, but some are single
cut, because we want to keep the quality
really high. We don’t currently wash our
salads – we don’t have the infrastructure,
but also we think the chefs probably do
a better job of that than we can at the
moment. Everything that’s picked is
brought in individually, and then we’ll
do the mixing: sometimes customers

69

specify when they want more or less of an
ingredient, but others are happy to have
our daily pick, where we choose what’s
really at their best in the field. And then
it’s packed, and we deliver it. The salads,
herbs and edible leaves, and lots of the
greens – they’ll be in kitchens within
three, four hours of picking.”
As you’d expect with a schedule like
this, Calixta hasn’t had a holiday in a
long time. “I would love to one day,” she
laughs, “and that’s part of what we’re
trying to do here, growing unusual things
that people want – I’d love to travel and
find new varieties… but I love what I do.
I know it’s not sustainable to work hard
forever, but the beginnings of a project
are always hard.”
Calixta is hoping to run events and
open days in the future, and there’s a plan
for Flourish’s website to be revamped
with a space for longer updates – but for
now, you can live vicariously through
Flourish’s Instagram feed, where they
post photos of crops in the fields, horses
hard at work, and polytunnels gently
glowing in the sideways winter sun. And
if that inspires you to hunt out Flourish
produce for yourself, here’s a tip: the one
place you can find Calixta’s wares without
having to be a chef is the Farm Shop at
Old Granary Organics in Linton. See you
in the queue... l
instagram.com/flourishproduce

Cooking soup is about
concentrating flavours
– making something
wholesome and
warming that tastes
of the very essence
of the ingredients
that went into it.
Roasting achieves this
intense flavour: the
process caramelises
the pumpkin, giving a
deep, satisfying result.
Make plenty, freeze
any you don’t eat
and you’re only ever
minutes away from a
hearty lunch.
D E C E M B E R 2 018

CE12_070-071 (HOW TO MAKE THE BEST)sg.indd 70

70

l
l

l
l

l
l
l
l

STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE
l

l

l

l

reheat the oven to 190°C. Place
P
the pumpkin slices in an ovenproof
dish, drizzle with cooking oil and
season with salt. Cook in the oven
until soft and beginning to brown –
about 30 minutes.
M
eanwhile, melt the butter over a
medium heat in a saucepan large
enough to hold all the ingredients.
Add the onion, garlic and celery.
Season with salt and cook gently for
25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
W
hen the pumpkin is cooked,
remove from the oven and allow
to cool for a few minutes. Use a
spoon to remove the flesh from
the skin and add to the pan with
the rest of the ingredients. Add the
stock, cook for ten minutes then
blend until smooth.
T
o serve, sprinkle over a few
pumpkin seeds and drizzle over
a little pumpkin seed oil.

t’s always about dinner.
The roasted meats,
potatoes, sprouts and
cranberry sauce get all the
glory whenever anyone
mentions eating on
Christmas Day. Sometimes
the late night/Boxing
Day sandwich might get
a cursory mention but,
by and large, turkey and
trimmings dominates
Christmas food chat. The
king of roasts piles the
pressure on to the wise fool who elects
to do the cooking. “All I wanted was a
day like Nigella’s,” says Caroline Aherne’s
masterful creation Denise Royle through
panicked tears as she realises the turkey
hasn’t defrosted and won’t fit in the oven.
It’s a common Christmas sentiment.
So this year, I’m not even going to
mention Turkey. Instead let’s talk about
breakfast. Christmas Day breakfast is the
unsung hero of the festive season yet it
rarely gets the credit it deserves, forever
overshadowed by stuffing and chipolatas.
Firstly, it’s far easier to accommodate
everyone’s wishes over the breakfast
table. On Christmas Day, families can
fracture over untold issues: when to
open the presents, who allowed your
12-year-old cousin free access to the
prosecco or why there isn’t a vegan gravy
to accompany the tofu and mushroom
filo pastry crown. Breakfast is blissfully
free of these flash points and, other than
the possibility that there may be a few
sore heads from Christmas Eve-based
indulgence, spirits are usually high.
Secondly, putting together an antemeridiem feast is a far less labourintensive affair than that which is
expected as darkness begins to descend.
There are certain expectations that the
assembled family members will have
when it comes to dinner, but these are
totally absent for the first meal of the day.
What’s more, requests and restrictions
can be far more easily accommodated:
need a quick dairy-free alternative? No
problem: just poach the eggs instead of
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE12_075 (CHEF'S TABLE)sg.indd 73

scrambling them. Eldest son has a sore
head? Smile, hand him a Bloody Mary and
he need not feel guilty that he doesn’t
want to eat the fruits of your labours.
Thirdly, the options available to you
are near infinite and there is plenty of
scope for outrageous indulgence. Eggs
are probably a must, but from that simple
starting point you can delight everyone.
Sausages and dry-cured bacon for the
traditionalist. Eggs Royale with smoked
salmon and hollandaise sauce for the
decadently minded. French toast, spiced
with cinnamon and nutmeg for the sweettoothed. Or freshly shaved truffles for
anyone you wish to truly spoil.
Drinks options too, can offer a neat
nod towards the luxurious end of the
spectrum. Really good single estate coffee.
A sweet juice, pressed from a few of those
clementines sitting in their pretty wooden
box. An outrageously expensive loose
leaf from Fortnum & Mason. Savoury,
spicy red snappers with a cooling stick of
celery. Thick hot chocolate with whipped
cream and marshmallows. And, of
course, champagne. There really should
be champagne: the occasions when it is
deemed appropriate to drink sparkling
wine before 11am are few and far between.

73

Christmas is certainly one of them.
This flexible feast can take place at
any time between 7am and midday
and should last at least an hour, giving
those who take a little more time to gain
consciousness the appropriate window to
join the party. Youngsters can be quieted
with small gifts and chocolate selection
boxes. Early risers can be placated with
liquid refreshment and latecomers need
not feel they have ruined the event
through tardiness, if they require a little
more shut eye (having been in this
position myself, several times, thanks to a
birthday on Christmas Eve, I can attest to
its importance).
If you do decide to pull out all the stops
at breakfast you can be forgiven for going
easy later on in the day. Let someone
else peel the potatoes, cross the sprouts
and worry about the
turkey, leaving you
plenty of space
to finish the
champagne and, at
a push, make the
carrot crush. Just
follow Nigella’s
recipe, rather
than Denise’s. l
D E C E M B E R 2 018

press down a little, then cover and
place in fridge until ready. Take the
remaining apples and cut the top off,
one-third of the way down. Remove
core and fill each apple with the
remaining stuffing and replace the
lid. Brush well with rapeseed oil or
melted butter and place in the fridge.
Place two tablespoons of the stuffing
into the small cavity (neck end)
of the turkey, pull excess skin over
stuffing and secure to underside
of turkey with a wooden skewer.
Place the turkey in a large roasting
pan; fill the large cavity with lemon
and thyme sprigs. Brush the turkey
generously with rapeseed oil and
season with sea salt and black
pepper, and cover with foil.

l

To make the turkey stock, place
the turkey giblets, chopped onion,

l

CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE12_075-079 (CHRISTMAS RECIPES)_FE.indd 77

Wash the giblets in cold water, place
in a large pan with 1.5 litres of cold
water. Bring to the boil and remove
any scum off the top of the water.
Then add the rest of the ingredients,
cover and simmer for 40 minutes.
U
ncover the pan and simmer for a

carrot, celery and bay leaf in a heavy
based saucepan, cover with water
and bring to the boil. Simmer for two
hours, then strain. Cool and store in
the fridge until needed (this can be
done the night before).

l

further 20 to 30 minutes or until the
stock has reduced by half. Remove
from the heat and strain into a bowl,
leave to cool, cover and place in the
fridge or use immediately.
B
ring the stock back to the boil and
remove from the heat.
W
hen the turkey is cooked, pour off
the fat from the roasting juices, place
the tin on the hob, whisk in the flour
and place over a low heat and cook
the flour mixture making sure you
have scraped up all the meaty, sticky
bits on the bottom of the tin. Stir
constantly.
A
fter two minutes, remove from the
heat and whisk in the turkey giblet
stock and redcurrant jelly, bring slowly
to the boil, stirring constantly.
A
dd the sherry and cook for a further
three minutes, stirring constantly.
Season to taste, add a little more
sherry if you want, and then strain into
a warm jug and serve.

When you are satisfied the turkey
is properly cooked, transfer it to a
platter and place the apples around
it. Cover loosely with foil and leave
to rest for 20 to 30 minutes.

l

For the Marsala gravy, place the
roasting pan over a medium
heat, sprinkle over the flour, then
gradually stir in the Marsala,
followed by the turkey stock and
bring to the boil. Strain the mixture
through a sieve into a saucepan.
Add the redcurrant jelly and any
juices that have collected on the
platter. Stir over a medium heat until
the mixture boils; simmer for 10
minutes and season with sea salt and
black pepper.

l

Place the turkey in the pre-heated
oven and cook at this temperature
for 30 minutes. Then, lower the oven
temperature to 180°C/Gas Mark
4 and cook for approximately 30
minutes per kilo, basting every hour.

l

Meanwhile, cook the stuffing in the
loaf tin for 40 to 45 minutes or until
golden brown.

l

About 35 minutes before the end of
cooking the turkey, remove the foil,
drain off any of the excess fat and
place the stuffed apples around the
bird; cook them until golden brown.

STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE
Poach the mini pumpkins gently for
30 minutes and leave to cool. Then
carefully cut the top off to form a lid;
scoop out the seeds and leave a ring
of flesh to help it hold its shape.
l D
ice the butternut, toss in olive oil,
add any excess flesh from the mini
pumpkins, toss with the cracked
garlic cloves and thyme sprig, roast
until very tender, then set aside.
l F
or the chocolate soil, blitz the
frozen chocolate in a blender until
a fine soil is formed with the chilli
seasoning; keep frozen until needed.
l F
or the tarragon jelly, boil the water
and sugar with the tarragon (you
l

79

l

l

l

l

can add a drop of green food colour
for effect). Once boiled, strain out
the leaves, add the agar, then place
in a bowl on a flat tray to set in the
fridge. When plating the dish, cut
strips of the jelly to place around the
pumpkin.
B
oil the double cream and reduce by
half, add the pumpkin mix and blend
until a smooth paste; leave to cool.
M
ake the soufflé base: melt 20g of
butter, beat in the flour and add the
egg yolks; once this is smooth and
nicely seasoned fold in the whisked
egg whites.
P
lace this mix inside the hollowedout mini pumpkins and bake at
190°C for about 20 minutes.
W
hile this is cooking, toss the
cooked baby roots in a little balsamic
glaze, then plate as shown.
D E C E M B E R 2 018

21/11/2018 10:13

CE ADS_DECEMBER.indd 80

22/11/2018 18:15

FO O D & D R I N K

Nature’s Larder
THE TEAM FROM THE GOG, OUR AWARD-WINNING LOCAL FARM SHOP, BUTCHERY, DELI AND CAFÉ,
GIVE THE LOW-DOWN ON THE SEASONAL PRODUCE TO SEEK OUT THIS MONTH

I

t’s a common misconception that the turkey has
always been the star of the British Christmas
dinner – in fact, it’s only been gracing our
tables since the 16th century. The first turkeys
are believed to have been imported from the
American colonies in the 1500s by English
landowner William Strickland, who bought the
birds, native to Mexico, and sold their offspring
in Bristol for tuppence apiece. He went on to
make a fortune, allowing him to buy a mansion
in Yorkshire and incorporate a turkey in the
family coat of arms. Authentic British turkey
breeds like the Norfolk Bronze are still related to
these first six imported wild birds.
Historically, the goose had the starring role,
but its popularity took a severe decline as the
bird of choice largely thanks to Charles Dickens’ A Christmas
Carol, because Scrooge sent Bob Cratchit a turkey to replace his
goose, making it a more luxurious choice. Part of the reason the
turkey became desirable was due to its larger size – it came to be
associated with feasts, celebrations and family gatherings. Henry
VIII was reported to be the first King to feast on a turkey.
Whilst now a lesser sung hero, you can maximise the amount
of meat and retain moisture in a goose by creating a ballotine
– a piece of roasted meat which has first been boned, stuffed
and folded or rolled into a cylindrical shape for cooking. A roast
goose and stuffing recipe makes the most of the flavour and
texture of the bird. This requires first boning it, cooking it in
a water bath and then roasting it. With this method, the meat
remains juicy and moist. Boning a goose is easy when you know
how, but it is time-consuming so make it easy on yourself and
ask your butcher to do the job for you.
Whatever your meat of choice, there is a wealth of tasty
accompaniments that are mostly interchangeable and all part of
the traditional menu for a British Christmas.
In a recent YouGov survey to establish the most important
ingredient in Christmas dinner, 85% said the roast potato was
top of the list – don’t forget to use the goose fat to make the
tastiest roasties – with stuffing and gravy ranking closely behind.
Despite the stereotypical disdain of the brussel sprout, 62% of
people would have them as part of their ideal Christmas dinner,
making them slightly more popular than pigs in blankets!
If brussels aren’t for you, try kale as an excellent alternative.
It’s a wonderfully British vegetable, in season now and has a
naturally sweet taste, as opposed to the slightly bitter flavour of
sprouts. Simply boil the kale in water, adding a good helping of
salt, remove from the boiling water after five minutes and place
immediately in iced water, which will help to retain the crunch.
Toss in butter, salt and pepper and perhaps add a touch of
nutmeg for an extra Christmassy flavour.
A final top Chrimbo tip: you can cook your turkey, wrap it in
old towels and store it in a cool box, where it will stay warm for
eight hours, freeing up your time and oven to focus on the veg
and all the trimmings. Winner, winner turkey dinner! l
The Gog, Heath Farm, Shelford Bottom, Cambridge CB22 3AD
01223 248352 | www.thegog.com/christmas

CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE12_081 (NATURES LARDER)_DvW.indd 81

HOW TO E AT I T
IN THE SPIRIT OF MAKING THINGS
SIMPLE, OUR FAVOURITE TIP IS TO
CAPITALISE ON THE PRE-PREP THAT GOES
INTO THE MAIN EVENT AND CREATE A
TASTY LEFTOVER PIE
• When you’re clearing up, simply pop all your
leftovers, meat, veg and roasties into a roasting
tray or nice dish and leave to cool.
• Store in the fridge overnight.
• When you’re ready for Boxing Day lunch,
make up a fresh batch of extra thick gravy
and whizz through the relevant condiments
– horseradish for beef, apple sauce for goose,
cranberry for turkey.
• Give it a good stir and pop on a pastry lid
of your choice; shortcrust or puff will both
work well.
• Pop it in the oven for 30 minutes until
piping hot.
• Serve it with seasonal veg on Boxing Day or
cool and freeze until New Year’s Day.

81

D E C E M B E R 2 018

21/11/2018 11:19

CE ADS_DECEMBER.indd 82

22/11/2018 17:56

CE ADS_DECEMBER.indd 83

23/11/2018 10:49

Drinks
TROLLEY

Christmas Spiri�
THE TOP 3 LOCALLY-MADE TIPPLES TO GIFT THIS CHRISTMAS

THE PINKSTER CHRISTMAS CRACKER

(£47.50 FOR 6)
The perfect gift for the gin-lover in
your life, these classy crackers contain
either a Dinkster 5cl bottle or a mini
jar of Gin Jam, as well as jokes and
party hats.
pinkstergin.com
D E C E M B E R 2 018

CE12_050-051 (DRINKS TROLLEY)sg.indd 84

CRANES DRINKS CRANBERRY
& BLOOD ORANGE LIQUEUR

(£19.99 FOR 50CL)
Forget cranberry sauce, we’ll be teaming our
turkey with a drop of cranberry and blood
orange liqueur from Cranes Drinks. Top tip:
add a splash to pimp up your prosecco.
drinkcranes.co.uk

84

ELY GIN MINCE PIE WHIMSIES

(£13, 250ML BOTTLE)
They love experimenting at Ely Gin,
resulting in very-limited-edition runs
of new ideas and seasonal fruits. This
one, a mince pie gin, would make a
perfect pressie.
elygin.co.uk
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

50ml of Cambridge gin
6 cloves
75ml of orange juice
1 teaspoon of runny honey
HOW TO MAKE IT

Warm the orange juice
and cloves together, add
the honey and stir, before
adding the gin

“A festive
cocktail
that really
smells –
and tastes
– like
Christmas”

CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE12_084-087 (DRINKS TROLLEY)sg.indd 85

Try something
different
this Christmas
FED UP WITH FIZZ? ELODIE CAMERON FROM THIRSTY
SHARES SOME MUST-TRY ALTERNATIVE XMAS TIPPLES

W

e all love to drink
seasonally and, of course
Christmas is the ultimate
season for indulging.
Many of us drink wine or fizz with the key
festive dishes, but sometimes you just
fancy something a little different.
As is well known in these parts, at
Thirsty we are partial to a brew or two
– yes, we love beer! The great thing
about beer is that brewing schedules
come and go with the seasons which
means that the beer suits the food we
are eating and the weather outside. This
also means that breweries can work with
seasonal ingredients either in terms of
the grains used or the flavours added.
A great example of this is stouts: dark
and rich with a luscious mouth-feel
that is well suited to winter, they are
characterised by flavours of chocolate,
coffee and roasted malts. In particular
we love milk stout at this time of year
– these dark, thick ales have sweet
notes of chocolate and coffee. They’re
not actually sugar-sweet, but are more
akin to the sweetness you will find in
a milky dessert as they are made with
lactose, the sugar found in milk – hence
the name. These sweet notes are an
excellent complement to the bitter notes
that come from the hops and barley.
As part of our ongoing love of all
things Scandinavian (a part of the
world that does Christmas pretty well
too), we are already enjoying Jule
Maelk (Christmas Milk) from To-øl in
Denmark, even though at the time of
writing it’s only mid November. We just
can’t resist the dark chocolate, espresso,

85

candied fruit and vanilla. You can’t get
much more Christmassy than that!
My second suggestion is just what
you need on a cold winter’s night
– something warming and spiced.
Because we all love the classic Christmas
combination of apples and spices, plus
a tot of rum – it has to be mulled cider.
This is the winter warmer at its best,
whichever recipe you use; star anise or
cloves with your cinnamon, or a glug
of sloe gin with sugar or honey. Perfect
after that Christmas stroll along the
Backs or a windy walk with the dog.
You’ll be following a long tradition: this
is a drink that has been popular since
the 17th Century when Samuel Pepys
referred to the pleasures of drinking
a ‘mulled sacke’. However we won’t
commend the traditional addition of
eggs! What we do recommend is that
you pop over to Chesterton Road where
our rum-spiced Mulled Cider is at the
ready (£4.50 by the glass).
Last but not least, we all need a
treat at Christmas, and my favourite
indulgence has to be a plate of cheese
with a glass of Sebastiano Passito from
Riecine (£33). Forget the port, this
dessert wine is only made in good
years when the grapes are left to dry,
concentrating all the luscious honeyed
character. Yes, this wine is sweet but
not overly so; the caramel and citrus
notes balance perfectly and the acidity
cuts beautifully through the fat and
richness of cheese. Alternatively, this
is equally good with a dark chocolate
dessert, especially if there are also nuts.
Merry Christmas!

D E C E M B E R 2 018

23/11/2018 09:36

CE ADS_DECEMBER.indd 86

22/11/2018 17:56

D R I N KS

Langhe: Great
lands for great wines
GIANPIERO ROCCA FROM LOCAL WINE E-SHOP VINE&CORK ON THE ULTIMATE ITALIAN WINE EXPERIENCE

W

hat is a great wine? At
this question most wine
connoisseurs would reply
with the academic statement,
“a perfect balance of tannins, complexity
and depth of flavours”. Yes sure, but what
makes it special? The most poetic and
heartfelt answer was instead given to us
by one of our friend and winemaker: “a
great wine is a unique emotion”.
The best wines bring something
extra. A sense of occasion. A feeling that
something wonderful is happening that
cannot be quantified. Wine has brought
this joy to people for some 6000 years
and in Italy, wine is a birthright, an
expectation – as important to a daily
routine as the requisite eight glasses
of water, and making wine is so utterly
natural that it almost seems instinctive.
Great wines are certainly at home in
the Langhe (in Piedmont), one of Italy’s
most exciting regions when it comes to all
things vinous. Appointed UNESCO World
Heritage Site in 2014, this is a land filled
with places of memories, imagination and

CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE12_050-051 (DRINKS TROLLEY)sg.indd 87

literature, where every village has a castle
or tower and every historic centre is
distinguished by an overlapping of many
styles. The landscape is a geometrical
succession of vineyards, the ideal setting
for nature and men to create one of the
most intriguing forms of art: wine!
Langhe’s most famous grape variety,
Nebbiolo, is not grown in any meaningful
way anywhere else in the world. It just
doesn’t really work. Nebbiolo is the key
grape variety for Barbaresco and one of
Italy’s most prestigious nectars, Barolo,
wine of kings, king of wines. Its name
derives from the Italian for fog, “nebbia”,
abundant here in autumn when grapes are
harvested. Nebbiolo wines are usually a
pale, bricky colour, with a “tar and roses”
aroma and a deep, leathery character that
pairs amazingly with food.
Barbera and Dolcetto are two other
key red grapes grown here, with the best
coming from around Alba. Barbera has a
distinctive cherry character, a soft, fresh
wine, with good balance. Dolcetto makes
fruit-driven wines with subtle spice.

87

Langhe also makes several white and
dessert wines, like the famous Roero
Arneis, a fresh, aromatic white wine with
a nutty, pear-like character. It is a grape
difficult to grow (in the local dialect it
means “little rascal”), but those who have
made the effort have been rewarded with
a complex and unique white wine.
At Vine&Cork we believe in telling the
great story enclosed in a small bottle, and
we pride ourselves on personally selecting
small, independent wine producers
that make the best artisan Italian wines.
Italian by heart, but British by geography,
we want to expand the culture of wine,
sharing our knowledge and love of wine
and the tradition and passion from our
winemakers. Vine&Cork offers wine
lovers the chance to engage with Italian
wine on a deeper level, introducing new
appellations, regions and explaining their
history. Our mission is to bring unique
emotions into wine lovers’ homes,
the ultimate Italian wine experience.
Why? Because life is too short to drink
bad wine! l
D E C E M B E R 2 018

20/11/2018 12:58

CE ADS_DECEMBER.indd 88

22/11/2018 17:56

GIFT GUIDE

BROMPTON 2019 M-TYPE 6-SPEED
FOLDING BIKE, STEEL GREEN

£1069.99, Rutland Cycling

TEN-INCH
DESK GLOBE

£59.95, The
Geographer,
Impington

CHOCOLATE GIFT BASKET

£39.50, The Geographer,
Impington

CAMBRIDGE DRY GIN

£45, Cambridge
Distillery

FOR
HIM
GI V E T H E GI F T
OF F L IGH T!
CAMBRIDGE
COASTERS

£4 each or
four for £15,
by local artist
Naomi Davies

Dare to dream and take to the skies
in an aircraft that won the hearts
of both pilots and public in WWII.
A symbol of Britain’s refusal to
give up, the Spitfire is an icon with
unbridled horsepower, a fighter
with heart and a joy to watch.
Aerial Collective Spitfire flights start
from £2,750.

Struggling to find the perfect
pressie? The Love Cambridge
gift card is redeemable at
more than 170 restaurants,
shops and attractions across
the city, ranging from big
brands such as John Lewis,
Topshop and Yo Sushi, to
local indies including Millers
Music, Aromi and Podarok.
The cards can be purchased
love-cambridgegiftcard.com
or in person at the Visitor
Information Centre, and
topped up with as little as £10
or as much as £200.

HONEY & SEA SALT CARAMELS

£11.99, Suffolk Beekeepers, The
Larder, Burwash Manor

HELLO CAMBRIDGE
TOTE BAG

£14.99, Jack’s On Trinity

STUDIO NILLI 3D
PRINTED SHORT AND
TALL LEGGED PLANTERS

DISASTER DESIGNS
PAINT MAKE-UP BAG

from £28, Kettle’s Yard

£22.50, Lilac Rose

RACHEL JACKSON
SHOOTING STAR EARRINGS

£75, Boudoir Femme

MAKE YOUR
OWN SOCKS
GIFT SET

£22, Knitting
Needle Lane

CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE12_091 (GIFT GUIDE FOR HER)sg.indd 91

91

D E C E M B E R 2 018

22/11/2018 12:17

CE ADS_DECEMBER.indd 92

22/11/2018 17:56

GIFT GUIDE
GUITAR CASE
LUNCHBOX

£14.99, Millers Music

SANTA IS COMING
TO CAMBRIDGE

£4.99, Rocking Horse Toy
Shop, Burwash Manor

FOR
KIDS

THE BOTTLED
BAKING
COMPANY
UNICORN
CAKE

£13.99, The Gog

FITZ AND WILL
THE CHRISTMAS
ADVENTURE

£7.99, Jack’s
On Trinity

FRANKIE KNITTED FOX
CUDDLY SNOWMAN

£16.99, Jack’s On Trinity

£17.99, Rocking Horse,
Burwash Manor

REINDEER
BISCUIT TIN

£6.99, The Gog
RUDOLPH SNOW GLOBE

£22.99, Blackthorpe Barn

NOAH’S ARK
BISCUITS

£13.99,
The Larder,
Burwash Manor

BODY PARTS
DUVET SET

£120, See Say Do

CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE12_093 (GIFT GUIDE FOR kids)sg.indd 93

93

D E C E M B E R 2 018

20/11/2018 17:31

INDEPENDENT OF THE MONTH

The Cambridge
Flower School
WHETHER YOU ARE CONSIDERING FLORISTRY AS A NEW CAREER OPTION, OR JUST LOVE
FLOWER ARRANGING AND WANT TO IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS, THE CAMBRIDGE FLOWER
SCHOOL HAS SOMETHING TO OFFER YOU, AS SIOBHAN GODWOOD DISCOVERS

W

ho doesn’t love flowers? There’s
nothing like a beautiful arrangement of
gorgeous, fresh blooms to transform any
environment, whether it’s a small bunch
in a vase to brighten your kitchen, or an
elaborate centrepiece as the finishing
touch to a celebration dinner. But for
Sarah Clerke and her colleagues Gussie
Sneddon and Claire McNamara at The
Cambridge Flower School, flowers are
more than just an occasional treat:
they’re a way of life. They specialise
in sharing their love of blooms with
others through their flower-arranging
workshops and floristry career courses.
“I’ve worked in floristry a long
time, and have had three shops over
the years,” says Sarah. “I also have a
background in teaching, and I wanted to
combine my two passions. If anything, I
actually love teaching even more than I
love flowers!”
The floristry course at the local college
in Cambridge had recently closed down,
so there was a need for someone to step
into that gap. “I started off just running
workshops now and then, and combining
that with my day job,” explains Sarah.
“The business really just grew organically
from there, and now we have students
coming to us from all round the world.

D E C E M B E R 2 018

CE12_094-095 (INDIE)lm.indd 94

Because Sarah had run her own
businesses before, she didn’t see setting
up the flower school as a huge risk.
“I really believe that you have to give
things a go; you’re much more likely
to regret the things that you haven’t
done than those you have,” she says.
“For the first year or so I wasn’t doing it
every day, then four years ago I took the
plunge, gave up my job and set up the
school full-time.”
The school has a permanent base
at Newton Hall, an early 20th century
country house just outside Cambridge.
Sarah has found that there’s a real
diversity in the people who come to
do the career courses. “Our students
are of all ages, from 16 to 85,” she says.
“Lots are looking to change their career
and others simply want to be more
adventurous with their flowers at home.
Many people have always had a passion
to be a florist but have felt the need to
follow a more traditional career path.
Whether you are 25 or 55, you no longer
have to stay in a job that doesn’t inspire
you, and lots of students come to us
having had this nagging dream of being
a florist. We make that dream a reality –
warts and all: floristry is wonderful, but
it is hard work!”
The career course at The Cambridge
Flower School is a week-long,
intensive course, and is almost always
oversubscribed, attracting students
both locally and from around the world.
Sarah finds teaching floristry incredibly
rewarding, but she says that students
are often surprised to realise how much
business knowledge is required to take
it up as a career. “A lot of people have
a love of flowers and are attracted to
floristry because of that,” she explains,
“but you have to make money out of it,
so we look at how we make a profit out

94

of everything we make, how to look after
flowers, how to store them, all the things
that we need to get right if we are going
to make a success of our career. It’s
definitely not a ‘ladies who lunch’ kind of
course, the students have to get involved
with clearing up, sweeping the floor, just
like in a real floristry environment.”
As for flower-arranging and wreathmaking courses, “people come along to
them for all sorts of different reasons,”
says Sarah. “For some, it’s the first step
in realising that they want to do floristry
as a career, and they end up coming
along to one of the career courses. But
often people come along because it’s so
different to their day-to-day jobs so it’s
a great way to relax in the evenings or
weekends. It’s very creative, and that can
be relaxing if you spend the rest of your
time at a desk looking at a computer.”
With Christmas fast approaching, it’s
an incredibly busy time of year for Sarah
and her team. “Our festive workshops
are really popular,” she says, “and are
usually fully booked from November.
At the moment we are running several
classes a week, in the evenings and half
days, with classes ranging from making
hanging chandeliers and wreaths, to a
Festive Opulence course with fabulous
Christmas table topiary. And as for the
career courses, they’re busy too, with
the floristry industry gearing up for next
year’s summer wedding season.
“That’s the wonderful thing about
floristry,” says Sarah. “We think of it as
being very seasonal, but the people who
work with us in the industry are always
there, bringing beautiful flowers into
people’s lives all year round.”l
The Cambridge Flower School
Newton Hall, Newton, Cambridge
CB22 7ZE | 01223 655661
thecambridgeflowerschool.co.uk

CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

22/11/2018 18:17

INDEPENDENT OF THE MONTH

W H AT:

A place to be
inspired by the
beauty of flowers
and discover the
art of floristry
for fun or a
future career

W H ER E:

Newton,
Cambridgeshire

HOW
MUCH:

Workshops
from £65 and
professional
courses from
£155

CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE12_094-095 (INDIE)lm.indd 95

95

D E C E M B E R 2 018

22/11/2018 18:17

CE ADS_DECEMBER.indd 96

22/11/2018 17:56

B E AU T Y

the

BEAUTY
T

he shops may have been pumping
out the Christmas tunes for what
feels like months now, but I can
hardly believe it’s December. There
is one thing guaranteed to put me in
a festive frame of mind though, and that’s
poring over the gift sets and offerings to
be had beauty-wise this time of year. Sleek
always smashes it, making it easy to pick
up a bargain. The Gloss Like a Boss pack
features four mini lip shots of glass-like gloss
for just £8.50 from Superdrug. I like to break
up gift sets like this for cheap and cheerful
individual stocking fillers. And for the makeup mad in your life, the All Day, All Night
kit includes highlighter, liquid eye colour, a
metallic lip cream and my favourite; dip it
eyeliner (£20, Superdrug).
Murad package their bestsellers into
dedicated boxes for Christmas: Rapidly
Radiant (£70, John Lewis) includes Rapid
Age Spot Correcting Serum, and Essential-C
Day Moisturiser – the perfect combo
for sun-loving skin, both products work
together to improve environmental damage
and smooth the signs of aging. And to
hang on your tree, the Dew a Little (£10)
is a teeny box of Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate
Moisturiser, one of my favourite luxury
moisturisers. It’s thick, creamy and soothing
and this dinky pot is a fab way to try it out
before committing to the full size.
Pop to Neal’s Yard on Rose Crescent and
take a peep at their Christmas display. The
Beauty Sleep Collection (£50) is perfect for

bible

WORDS BY DAISY DICKINSON

basically anyone, including new parents. A
hug in a box, it includes everything you need
to promote a more restful night. They’ve also
got the blissfully relaxing Prepare for Bed
Duo (£12.50) which includes pillow mist and
roll-on aromatherapy blend... aahh!
If you’re looking to gift something a
little more blingy, I’m currently obsessed
with cruelty-free brand Prima Makeup
(primamakeup.com), which makes
affordable, pigmented palettes, plus their
pressed glitters are amazing. From £4.50 for
one pan, you can build your own magnetic
palette or favourites, or pick from the readymade sets. Fairy Dust Chameleon is the
prettiest iridescent sheen ideal for unicorn
and mermaid fans! The Mermazing magnetic
palette will hold 18 pans – or use it to mix
and match with your own favourites. Too
Faced always have great offerings for the
sparkle-conscious and the Then and Now
Eyeshadow palette (£52, Debenhams) is
packed with 20 pretty shades and glitters,
which all smell like birthday cake! And who
could resist the limited-edition
Peach Tinsel gift set (£36);
peach powder and a peach
kiss moisture matte
lipstick. Don’t forget
to gift fluttering lashes
too. My faves right
now are Pinky Goat
lashes – in the 3D silk
collection I love Yasmina
(£11.99, Superdrug). l

“There is one thing guaranteed to
put me in a festive frame of mind,
and that’s poring over gift sets”
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE12_099 (BEAUTY)sg.indd 97

97

THE
ONE
THAT I
WANT

It’s been breaking
the internet over on
Instagram and the new
Huda Beauty Nude
palette is definitely on
my wish list. An all-in-one
eyeshadow palette with
18 highly pigmented
shades, from flattering
mattes to shimmery
hues. Formulated with
aloe vera and coconut
oil for butter-like
application; it’s the four
reflective shades that
have me losing it. The
shimmering pearl flecks
offer an insane duochromatic finish, and just
look at that glitter! It’s
available online at Cult
Beauty now for £56, but
be warned, it’s going to
be flying off the virtual
shelves, so add your
name to the waiting
list now.

f you’re into the beauty
scene and are on
Instagram, chances are
you’ll be well aware of
microblading. It’s the
trend that’s swept the
nation, giving those
perfect ‘I woke up like
this’ brows that can last
around a year – yes,
that’s a whole year
without having to pencil
in! Now, let’s get real,
while microblading
offers a more natural
look than ‘classic’ block-style tattooing,
it’s still a serious commitment, and I urge
anyone to arm themselves with plenty of
research before taking the plunge.
While I’d perfected the art of creating
arches where there weren’t any and
adding colour where it was lacking, I
was bored with the time I was spending
on my brows each morning. I’d been
looking into microblading techniques for
about a year, conscious of the cost and
commitment – as well as finding someone
I could trust to get the style to my liking.
Microblading originated in Asia and,
though it’s been around for a long time,
has recently grown in popularity thanks
to celebrity trends. Karen Betts was
one of the first professionals to bring
such treatments to the UK and it was
her company, KB PRO, that trained
Natalie Tooke, the microblading artist at
Cambridge Contour Clinic (CCC).
Gearing up to celebrate its first
birthday, CCC launched with a team of
five practitioners and artists, offering
an array of aesthetic treatments which
includes injectables, dermaplaning,
microneedling and microblading. Director
Bradley Melbourne Wilks explains the
ethos behind CCC and how it likes to
keep things simple: “A vast majority of
our treatments revolve around assisting
the body to do what it does best.
Encouraging habitual changes or offering
services that will give the best chance
to achieve the desired results, a more
refined you.”
Before my brows went anywhere even
close to a blade, I was invited to the

“Some may feel discomfort,
but no watery eyes or
squirming, I promise!”
clinic to have a consultation with Natalie,
who’s been in the industry for a decade,
previously owning a successful local
beauty salon. When I walked through the
door, the first thing I noted were Natalie’s
own well-groomed brows. A good sign.
Natalie was incredibly thorough,
talking me through the procedure, as
well as discussing her own training and
methods with me. Microblading is still
fairly unregulated and, technically, you
can get ‘qualified’ in just a day. However,
Natalie’s extensive training with KB PRO
took nine months, which was reassuring.
I had lots of questions of my own, but

98

CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

20/11/2018 11:41

W E L L N E SS
BEFORE

the longer I was with Natalie, the more
at ease and excited I felt. Bradley had
explained that “you can almost get
everything you need from a photo. There
is a range of expertise and experience
out there in the world of microblading,
but it is shockingly unregulated. We have
definitely opted for what, in our opinion,
best replicates natural brows. Most
notably we allot ample time and we use it.
We also avoid linear lines or a patterned
approach as much as reasonably
possible. We could easily half the time of
treatments if we did, though it is a simple
choice for us: if you can provide better,
you should.”
The images on CCC’s growing
Instagram page, @merefined, speak for
themselves and are especially reassuring,
as one of my main concerns were the
results looking fake.
At the end of the consultation, clients
are encouraged to go home and give
it some additional thought – armed
with a tonne of information. When my
appointment came, the preparation took
around an hour and involved colour
matching before using all sorts of rulers
and tools to map out my brows.
Now as we know, brows are sisters
and not twins, and because no face is
really symmetrical Natalie explained
how some freehand tweaking of the
shape would be necessary for the most
natural result. Numbing cream on, I laid
back comfortably. Using a small bladed
tool, Natalie proceeded to create little
strokes to my brows. Pain is one of the
top questions people have before this
treatment, but as the owner of multiple
tattoos, it wasn’t top of my concerns.
However, it really didn’t hurt. There is
a light scratching sensation and some
people may feel slight discomfort, but no
watery eyes or squirming, I promise!
After around an hour, we were done
and I got to take a first look at my new
brows. With all microblading, there
should be two treatments as standard.
One initial and a touch-up appointment
around four to six weeks later. Natalie
explained that with her approach
she prefers to go softer on the first
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE12_098-099 (WELLNESS) BF.indd 99

AFTER

appointment to make sure the client
is comfortable and happy, as well as
give her the chance to see how the skin
reacts – as everyone is different when it
comes to pigment retention and healing.
The most important thing is to follow
the aftercare instructions exactly – and
do as you’re told! You’ve essentially got
wounds on your face, so they need to be
treated with care. Don’t get them wet and
no make-up or creams can go near them
until they’re healed. There can be a little
scabbing, but you’ll be back to normal
after around 10 days.
After four weeks, I was ready for
my top up – this is where the magic
happened. I’d become used to my new
brows, but as a make-up fiend, I was
keen for a little more definition. We went
a little deeper and extended my arches
and tails a little more. I was very pleased
with the results. Natalie is an absolute
artist at what she does and, of course,
it’s not just the beauty-conscious who
benefit from microblading. While I love
waking up with beautiful, natural-looking
brows, it’s a fantastic treatment for those
who have lost their brows due to health
conditions or chemotherapy – helping
to restore a little confidence. Of course,
because it’s semi-permanent, after 12
to 18 months it’s possible to revisit and
adjust the shape, style and colour rather
than being stuck with the same design for
ever. Microblading at CCC costs £395 and
includes a free touch-up four to six weeks
after your first treatment. l
Cambridge Contour Clinic, Cambridge
CB4 2JD | cambridgecontourclinic.com

ANNA TAYLOR,
OWNER OF ANNA’S
FLOWER FARM IN
AUDLEY END,
SHARES WHAT’S
GOING ON IN THE
GARDEN THIS MONTH

T

he shortest day of the year makes
December the obvious month for
many festivals of light. Well before
it was known as Christmas, the
Roman God of Saturn was honoured at the
winter solstice, celebrating the festival of
midwinter, Saturnalia. Today we still feast,
light fires and candles to enliven the mood
of the darkest month.
Out in the garden, it may look as though
plants have retreated, lost leaves and gone
to sleep, but the truth is far from that. Some
seeds (and tulips) will need a period of
cold weather to allow germination; called
vernalisation. The roots of the hardy annuals,
biennials and bulbs we planted in the
autumn grow underground throughout the
winter. These plants might look battered
above ground but as soon as the soil warms
and the days lengthen, there will be rapid
growth and far bigger, earlier flowers. That,
combined with the swelling leaf and flower
buds on trees, brings much optimism as
the circle of the year is apparent again. In
fact, the Christmas wreath is symbolic of
the wheel and reminds us that the cold dark
nights will pass into spring again.
There are many plants that shine this
month, including the traditional evergreens,
holly, mistletoe, ivy and fir trees. Some
shrubs are must-haves in my garden and
plot. These include viburnum tinus with its
small white and pink flowers, lonicera winter
beauty with its exquisite tiny blooms and
delicious scent hanging on semi-evergreen
branches, and not forgetting sarcococca, with
the most delicate winter flowers. These
combine with the first of the winter bulbs
and hellebores to make an intricate show.
To bring the essence of the outside in, I
love to decorate my home with evergreen
branches, symbolising life through the
darkness, bringing fresh scents at this most
precious and evocative time. We plant
bowls of narcissus paperwhite every couple
of weeks for a brilliant display of bulbs,
emerging through the moss and supported
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE12_103 (FLOWER COLUMN)sg.indd 103

by bare branches of hazel and birch. These
compositions make great presents and can
flower in just five weeks with very little care.
I cut armfuls of branches and tuck nuts,
seed heads and berries into garlands for a
sumptuous table centrepiece or over-thefireplace mantle. The mixture of scents
makes Christmas for me. Studding oranges
with cloves creates that exotic atmosphere,
as wells as lighting candles, especially on
midwinter’s night. The slow, longer dark
days encourage me to beautify my home with
generosity, seeking warmth and beauty.
On the doors and walls, I increasingly
prefer dried wreaths, rings with beech, hazel
and birch branches and creating wilder
arrangements with wiring on cones, dried
grasses and seed heads. In early autumn,
I always look at the reducing garden for
material that might dry. I don’t like clearing
the house on Twelfth Night and prefer to
retain some natural decoration into January
with these wreaths. I might pop vials of
water within the branches for hellebores or
bulbs on special days. l

103

THIS
MONTH

See Anna at her
Christmas Bazaar and
Open Studio with
friends at the farm on
2 December, 10am
to 4pm. If you’re
feeling Christmassy,
try the moss wreath
making class at
the Grantchester
Distillery, 8
December, 10am
to 12.30pm.
annasflowerfarm.com

FROM TWINKLING TREES TO CANDLELIT TABLES, IT’S
TIME TO ADORN OUR HOMES WITH A TOUCH OF
GLITZ. WHETHER YOU GO ALL OUT WITH THE TINSEL
OR WANT A PARED-BACK MINIMALIST THEME,
ANGELINA VILLA-CLARKE REVEALS HOW TO KEEP
YOUR HOME STYLISH THIS CHRISTMAS

CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE12_107-114 (INTERIORS)v2lm.indd 107

107

D E C E M B E R 2 018

20/11/2018 11:27

or many of us, the focus of our Christmas
decorating is the tree. A real tree – such
as a Douglas Fir – with its pine aroma and
lush needles, gives lovers of a traditional
aesthetic that authentic feel. Artificial
versions, meanwhile, offer a more
practical approach, and these days there
is a wide choice available. At Christmas
Tree World, for instance, you can source
realistic, luxury trees, which can come
pre-lit or ‘snow-covered’ as well as
dramatic black, white and even upside
down options.
When it comes to decorating the tree,
you can update your scheme by taking
note of some of the latest trends from
high street retailers. John Lewis, for
example, has revealed seven different key
looks for this year, such as ‘Sapphire’, an
underwater, oceanic theme, and the allwhite ‘Moonstone’, but predicts that its
‘Rainbow’ theme will be the most popular.
Scott Bartle, junior Christmas buyer
and partner, reveals more: “The rainbow
trend originates from social media
platforms, like Instagram and Pinterest,
where a colourful post means more
likes! We wanted to capture customers’
imaginations by showing them how
to create something truly different
this Christmas.”
Meanwhile, at Yonder Living, a
homewares company focused on
craftsmanship, the look is all about
the tropical vibe with brass palm-tree
candlesticks, beaded lobster decorations
and retro pineapple baubles all the rage.
Lovers of a simple Nordic look should
check out Sue Parkinson’s minimalist
range of mango wood stars, antique silver
baubles and zinc wreaths. And, adding a
sense of fun to the branches, meanwhile,
are Cody Foster’s multi-coloured
decorations – from blue roller-skates
to scarlet ketchup bottles, available at
WA Green. u
D E C E M B E R 2 018

“If it’s your turn to host,
serve up on stylish crockery”
Christopher Ray, category manager for
Christmas at B&Q, however, predicts that
the Dachshund dog will be the musthave adornment this Christmas. “One of
the highlights from our new Christmas
range is the Sausage Dog Tinsel Pop-up
Character,” he says. “It’s one of this
year’s hottest trends and a great way to
inject some fun into your interior style. It
is sure to be a hit with kids and adults.”
From golden fairy lights to twinkling
candles, lighting, of course, is vital to

D E C E M B E R 2 018

CE12_107-114 (INTERIORS)v2lm.indd 110

add that all-important ambience at
Christmas-time. Offering a wide range of
scented candles in elegant glass vessels,
Peppermint Grove Australia has launched
a new Christmas range which aims to
capture the magic of the season.
Hannah Staples, director and coowner, says: “We have three new scents,
including ‘Sugared Shortbread’ – which
has sweet, buttery notes and smells good
enough to eat. ‘Crushed pine’ conjures
up the aroma of a freshly-cut tree. While
‘Coconut & Lychee’ is a fruity fragrance
reminiscent of bright lights, starry nights,
sweet treats and tasty feasts!”
A highlight of the festive period is,
of course, time spent with family and
friends, much of which is centred around
the dining table. If it’s your turn to host
this year, then serve up your fare on
stylish table linen, such as Ottolenghi’s
limited edition tablecloths and Clarissa
Hulse’s Midnight Blue crockery collection
– perfect for giving a wintry feel to
family get-togethers. Emma Britton’s
etched glassware is ideal for raising a
toast, while the emerald and scarlet u

Mantels suit either exaggerated
tall arrangements: think
branches – or short ones with
stems that tumble off the
mantel edge – like ferns.
TABLE SET TINGS

Once the table is set, pop
napkins onto plates and tie
them with ribbon or twine
with a name tag. For a lovely
finishing touch, slide in a flower
or piece of foliage,
like rosemary.
BRANCHES
ABOVE THE TABLE

Source a lovely branch from
your local florist or garden
centre. String each end up
quite solidly with fishing wire
for strength and fix in place
with Command hooks. It’s
simple but effective.

D E C E M B E R 2 018

CE12_107-114 (INTERIORS)v2lm.indd 112

goblets at Nisi Living add a regal theme
to parties.
“Most importantly, it all starts with
the right table,” says John Sims Hilditch,
co-founder of Neptune. “You can’t beat
a solid timber dining table and chairs,
or indeed a bench. When you dine on
a natural material, it makes you feel
connected to the great outdoors and
that’s particularly special at Christmas. It
helps to create a woodland atmosphere
that is intimate yet inviting – perfect for a
gathering in the country."
The winter period means prolonged
time in the home, and a few cosy
elements can add all the difference to
comfort. Giving the ultimate in snugness
is a wood burner, like those from ACR
Stoves. While the addition of a soft carpet
will also create an inviting feel.
Natalie Littlehales, Brintons’ consumer
marketing manager, agrees: “The texture
of wool underfoot makes it a great way
to build a comfortable and inviting
décor scheme. For many years it has
been all about neutral shades and a plain
finish, however, we are seeing a return
to patterned styles, such as tartans and
plaids, creating a warm, cosy feeling.”

112

Meanwhile, DFS’s senior designer
Lauren Harris suggests adding a touch
of festive luxe by going bold with
furniture and accessories. “People
tend to opt for neutral furniture and
bolder accessories, but by turning this
on its head, the end result makes a real
statement. Don’t forget about texture;
colour adds depth and character to a
room, but texture is just as important.
If you want a luxurious feel then rich,
tactile textures like velvet are always a
great option.”

If you are looking to redecorate a
room, then Valspar Paints suggests
that a pastel blue palette is the perfect
backdrop to festive decorations: “It
wouldn’t be Christmas without holly
greens, berry reds and deep chestnut
browns, but this year we’re taking a leaf
out of Elvis Presley’s book and predicting
a blue Christmas,” says the brand. “Skip
traditional red shades and paint your
room with light, bright pastel blue hues
to chase those winter nights away.”
Finally, Jack Hinshelwood, managing
director of The Magic Flower Company,
which specialises in preserved flowers,
suggests how to give the ultimate
finishing touch. “Fresh flowers and foliage
are a beautiful addition to your home
during this time, but they don’t always
stand the test of time.
“A great solution is investing in
natural flowers that have been preserved
to last for many months, or even a year,
in the home. Timeless combinations,
such as sprigs of eucalyptus and pale
white or rich red roses, achieve that
festive finish with ease, yet also
promise to look beautiful in the home
all year round.” l